Settlement Agreement: A Settlement Agreement was completed with Quality Rock Products in March of 2018. Under this agreement, the Eucon Corporation signed a Covenant on their mining property near the Black River National Wildlife Refuge that ensures that neither a concrete plant nor an asphalt plant can be built on that property. This covenant applies in perpetuity and runs with the land.
In return BHAS withdrew its SEPA appeal of the Special Use Permit (SUP) and five-year review permit concerning QRP gravel mining and its right to object to further reviews of the same project or help others do these things. The settlement agreement, however, will prevent two major forms of industrial development that would disrupt water flow, enhance noise levels, and increase toxic chemicals in the Black River watershed and its productive habitats for wildlife.
Background: In 2008 after a seven year legal ordeal, the State Appeals Court denied QRP the expansion of its mine adjacent to what is now the Black River N.W.R. In 2009, QRP reapplied to expand its mine from 151 to about 250 acres, and to grandfather in a concrete plant. After solid comment letters by BHAS, in 2015, QRP dropped its pursuit of the concrete plant. In 2016, GeoEngineers in a hydrogeologic study confirmed BHAS concerns regarding the impact of the mine on Ashley Creek (a Black River tributary) and on the summer flow of the Black River, recommending further studies to determine the consequences of the mine on the surrounding sensitive conservation area that includes Coho salmon and the Oregon Spotted Frog. In 2016-17, the intention to build a concrete plant was reopened. BHAS had its own hydrogeology studies done and submitted the results to Thurston County.