Whatcom County seeks public comments on a proposed open-pit rock quarry project.

WHATCOM COUNTY GIVES PUBLIC NOTICE THAT THE FOLLOWING SEPA THRESHOLD DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE (DS) AND SCOPING NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED TODAY SUBJECT TO a 30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD CONCLUDING ON MAY 29, 2026.
File: SEPA2023-00005
Description of the Action: Whatcom County is issuing a Determination of Significance and is initiating the process of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review for a proposal to create an approximately 64-acre open-pit rock quarry on a site totaling approximately 108 acres southeast of Sumas, Washington. The proposed Ranch Quarry project would be located on forested land within the Mineral Resource Lands overlay district along the north side of South Pass Road and west of Frost Road. Normal operations would involve about 25 trucks entering and exiting the site daily to transport mined minerals, with traffic potentially doubling during seasonal peak operations. On-site rock sorting and crushing activities would also occur in addition to the mining operations. More information about the proposed project can be found on the Whatcom County project www.whatcomcounty.us/RanchQuarryMine. 
Scoping Comments
Members of the public, agencies, and tribal governments are invited to comment on the scope of environmental review, including potential alternatives, environmental elements, impacts, and mitigation measures to consider in the EIS. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required. The method and deadline for giving us your comments is:
Online comments may be submitted via the online public comment portal, at RanchQuarryEIS.infocommunity.org by 4:30 PM on May 29, 2026. 
Email comments may be submitted to RanchQuarryEIS@co.whatcom.wa.us no later than 4:30 PM on May 29, 2026. 
Written comments must be postmarked no later than May 29, 2026. Send written comments to the following: 
Amy Keenan, Special Projects Manager
Whatcom County Planning and Development Services
5280 Northwest Drive
Bellingham, WA 98226
An online scoping public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 6 PM - 8 PM. The meeting will include a brief presentation, clarifying question-and-answer session and a formal public comment session. Attendees who register in advance and join the meeting through the Zoom platform will have the opportunity to provide verbal comments. Register at https://bit.ly/zoom-ranchquarryeis.
Proponent: Cowden, Inc.
Address and Parcel #: XXXX South Pass Road, 400518-479443, 400518-488379, 400518-466281, 4005170-49475, 400517-118447, 400518-344225, 400518-390227, and 400518-341295.
Lead Agency: Whatcom County Planning and Development Services
Zoning: Rural (R10A) and Rural Forestry (RF)
Comprehensive Plan Designation: Mineral Resource Lands 
Shoreline Jurisdiction: N/A 
IPL0334544
Apr 29 2026