Mineral Lands Task Force

Timeline of Activities

October 2003:  The Thurston County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance 13030, which adopting interim regulations limiting the issuance of special use permits for asphalt plants and gravel mines. This ordinance has been renewed multiple times and remains in effect. Click here for details.

January - June 2004:  A Task Force, established by the Board of County Commissioners, met to study and make recommendations regarding the designation of mineral lands in Thurston County and location criteria for mineral extraction and asphalt production operations.  Click here for meeting notes.

July 2004:  The Task Force presented a Final Report of recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.  Click here to view the Final Report.

October 2009:  A Planning Commission subcommittee, which had been reviewing the Task Force's Final Report and researching the issue, reported back to the full Planning Commission during a work session. A copy of the subcommittee's findings can be found here.

November 2009:  The Planning Commission held a work session on November 4, 2009 for mineral lands designation and gravel mining permitting. A public hearing was held on November 18, 2009.

December 2009:  The Planning Commission held followup work sessions on December 2 and December 16, 2009.

February 2010:  The Planning Commission scheduled another followup work session for February 17, 2010. After its work session, the Planning Commission recommended changes to Thurston County Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 3 Natural Resources and Chapter 20.30B Designated Mineral Lands in a vote of seven for and once against.

April 2010:  On April 21, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft ordinance relating to the Special Use Permit process and requirements involving mineral extraction under Thurston County Code (TCC) 20.54.070. The draft ordinance includes changes to the process and requirements for obtaining a special use permit for mineral extraction. The Planning Commission went into a work session at the conclusion of the hearing. Click here for a draft of the mineral extraction special use permit as of April 21, 2010.

The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on April 22, 2010 to take public comment on draft mineral lands designation criteria. To view the public-comment letters received at the hearing, click here. 

May 2010: On May 5, 2010, the Planning Commission held a work session to follow up on the April 21, 2010 public hearing on the draft ordinance relating to the Special Use Permit Process.  To view the public-comment letters received at the hearing, click here.

The Board of County Commissioners held a followup briefing May 19, 2010 on draft mineral lands designation criteria.

June 2010:  The Board of County Commissioners held followup briefings on June 2, 2010 and June 16, 2010 regarding draft mineral lands designation criteria.  At the June 16 meeting, commissioners approved for adoption the most recent draft mineral lands designation criteria.

Contact Us

Interested Parties: If you would like to be added to our Web Mail list, please click here. Staff contact: Christy Osborn, Associate Planner. Phone: (360) 754-3355, x4465 E-mail: osbornc@co.thurston.wa.us