The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed expanding an existing surface mine reclamation permit in Ferry County to increase the mine depth from 30 feet to 125 feet below pre-mining grade and allow more extractable material within the current permit boundary. The project was issued on June 17, 2026, with public comments due by July 1, 2026. The mine site will be reclaimed to industrial or dry land grazing use after mining ends. The DNR is the lead agency and applicant for the permit. The permit expansion does not require a new location but modifies the existing mine's operational parameters. Ferry County residents can submit comments to the DNR before the July 1 deadline. The DNR's permit process follows state environmental review requirements. The expanded mine depth and increased material extraction could affect local land use and environmental conditions. Residents interested in the project can view the full permit details online.
DNR seeks mine permit expansion
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📄 Source: WA Ecology SEPA — Ferry County — https://data.wa.gov/resource/mmcb-z6jf.json?countyname=FERRY
Checked against the public record9 of 11 claims · 82%
Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗
- ✓The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed expanding an existing surface mine reclamation permit in Ferry County.“Project: Surface Mine Reclamation Permit 70-013173 Lead agency: WA Department of Natural Resources Type: DNS Applicant: Department of Natural Resources Description: Surface Mine Reclamation Permit 70-013173 proposal is for an expansion of an existing Surface Mine Reclamation Permit (#70-013173) to increase the amount of extractable material at the mine within the approved permit boundary and to increase the approved mine depth from 30 feet to 125 feet below pre-mining topographic grade. The site will be reclaimed to an industrial / dry land grazing subsequent Issued: 2026-06-17 Comments due: 2026-07-01 Record: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/separ/Main/SEPA/Record.aspx?SEPANumber=202602586”
- ✓The mine depth will be increased from 30 feet to 125 feet below pre-mining grade.“The site will be reclaimed to an industrial / dry land grazing subsequent Issued: 2026-06-17 Comments due: 2026-07-01 Record: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/separ/Main/SEPA/Record.aspx?SEPANumber=202602586 CLAIM: The mine depth will be increased from 30 feet to 125 feet below pre-mining grade.”
- ✓The project was issued on June 17, 2026.“Issued: 2026-06-17”
- ✓Public comments are due by July 1, 2026.“Comments due: 2026-07-01”
- ✓The mine site will be reclaimed to industrial or dry land grazing use after mining ends.“The site will be reclaimed to an industrial / dry land grazing subsequent”
- ✓The DNR is the lead agency and applicant for the permit.“Lead agency: WA Department of Natural Resources Applicant: Department of Natural Resources”
- ✓The permit expansion does not require a new location but modifies the existing mine's operational parameters.“Surface Mine Reclamation Permit 70-013173 proposal is for an expansion of an existing Surface Mine Reclamation Permit (#70-013173) to increase the amount of extractable material at the mine within the approved permit boundary and to increase the approved mine depth from 30 feet to 125 feet below pre-mining topographic grade.”
- ✓Ferry County residents can submit comments to the DNR before the July 1 deadline.“Comments due: 2026-07-01”
- ⚠The DNR's permit process follows state environmental review requirements.Not found in the source record — unverified.
- ⚠The expanded mine depth and increased material extraction could affect local land use and environmental conditions.Not found in the source record — unverified.
- ✓Residents interested in the project can view the full permit details online.“Record: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/separ/Main/SEPA/Record.aspx?SEPANumber=202602586”
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