Read how the City of DuPont and their engineers were concerned, even back before it started, about the mining well that draws 40,000,000 gallons of water a day from our aquifer.

1. {gITY of DUIPONT
P.O. Box 455
DUPONT, WASHINGTON 98327
MARK S. JACKSON PATRICIA A. SKINNER
MAYOR CLERK·TREASURER
Telephone (206) 964-8121
CITY COUNCIL DENNIS CLARKE
WILLIAM H. GORGENSEN ADMINISTRATOR
ROBERT L. RIECK
RUSSELL C. HARPER
MARIETTA E. BUDACK
. RAY L. MILLER
August 6, 1990
Mr. Pat Lee, Director
Southwest Regional Office
Department of Ecology
7272 Cleanwater Lane
Olympia, WA 98504
Dear Mr. Lee:
Before Ecology issues a temporary water right to Lone Star
Northwest, I want to clarify with you the city's position
regarding provision of water to Lone Star Northwest for
operation of their proposed surface mine. I also want to
know from you how to proceed given the City's position, as
explained below.
The City's initial intention was to review, in the
environmental impact statement for the proposed surface
mine, consistency of Lone star's proposal with the City's
Water Supply Comprehensive Plan (WSCP). However, because
Ecology is considering issuing a temporary water right to
Lone Star we feel it prudent to review this issue now,
rather than wait until the draft EIS is issued.
The proposed p~oject site is within the City's water service
boundary, as delineated both in the city's Water System
Comprehensive Plan (dated July 12, 1989), and the
environmental impact statement for DuPonts's Comprehensive
Plan and Land Use Zoning Code (dated May 1985). The city
intends to serve water to all users within this service
boundary, including Lone Star Northwest should their
proposal receive necessary approvals.
As explained on page 3 of the WSCP, the DuPont-water service
area "includes the area within the city corporate
boundaries," and "the future service area boundary· has been
established to encompass approximately 4,123 acres~': Lone
Star Northwest·s's proposed project site is within this
service-area boundary.
Though industrially zoned land north of Sequalitchew Creek
is within the City's water service area boundaries, our WSCP
did not anticipate an industrial water demand in this area
until after the year 2010. Therefore, the water system
described in our WSCP was not designed to accommodate water
requi~ements for the industrially-zoned area.

2. The WSCP does, however, recognize that:
"Unanticipated future changes to land use or development
activity will have to be evaluated for the effect on the
planned facilities.1I
The city views the EIS for Lone star's proposal as the most
appropriate arena for evaluating the effect of the proposed
project on the city's planned system. However, we need data
from the proposed test well to determine how to incorporate
Lone star's projected water demand into the City's water
system. Also, we have yet to determine if the location of
the proposed well optimizes our long range service needs.
The EIS will analyze test-well data, as well develop
verifiable estimates of the potential water needs of the
proposed facility, and review the potential for the
withdrawal to result in adverse environmental impacts.
Because we need this information for the EIS, we do not want
to delay issuance of a temporary permit to allow the test
well.
Given the fact that the city maintains the right to provide
water to all users within the service area boundary, we need
to know how to proceed. Please let us know if we need to
take any action to insure that the city preserves all rights
to ground water within its delineated service boundaries.
We also need to know if additional actions would be required
to reserve water rights to meet future demand, in accordance
with our WSCP.
Please call me or Kari Rokstad at (206) 964-8121, if you
have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
CI:;.....,
04UPONT
&~/'/a~rt--
Mar(/~ .t~;~so~
Mayor
MJ/kr
cc: Mr. Phil Mickelson, Lone star Northwest
Mr. Richard Weinman, Huckell/Weinman and Associates
Ms. Kari Rokstad, city of DuPont

3. .. ...:: ::.:;::::....
' -, .:~'.. ~:.
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t ••• ' .' ~: CONSULTING ENGINEERS
JOHN D.S. BROOKES, P.E. 701 Dexter Ave. N., Ste. 200 • Seattle, Washington 98109 • 206-284-0860
RONALD R. COOK, P.E. Tet. Fax 206-283-3206
TONY VIVOLO, P.E. 4812 - 112th Street S.w .• Tacoma, Washington 98499 • 206-582-2263
JOHN C. POSTON, P.E. 107 South 3rd Street· Yakima, Washington 98901 • 509-453-4833
REPLY TO SEA TILE OFFICE
July 31, 1990
:Ms. Kari Rokstad
SEPA Coordinator
;;; v
City of Dupont
P.O. Box 455
Dupont, Washington 98327
(AUG a '199(1
SUBJECT: COMMENTS ON HART CROWSER'S WORK PLAN FOR THE LOAN
STAR NORTHWEST WATER WELL PROJECT, CITY OF DUPONT,
PIERCE COUNTY~ WASHINGTON; G&O #90654
Dear Ms. Rokstad:
As per your request, we have reviewed the Work Plan for the Lone Star Northwest
Water Well Project, prepared by Hart Crowser and submitted to the Department of
Ecology on July 18, 1990. Lone Star Northwest is seeking a temporary permit to
drill a 1,200 foot test/production well at their proposed surface mine north of the
City of Dupont. This Work Plan addresses concerns about the project expressed by
the Department of Ecology in a letter of 27 June 1990 to Hart Crowser. We have
discussed the Work Plan with Lori Herman at Hart Crowser.
We believe that the Work Plan presents reasonable responses to these concerns, but'
wish to offer the following comments.
Potential for Salt Water Intrusion
We are concerned that monitoring chloride content as per the proposed schedule
may not be sufficient to detect a trend indicating salt water intrusion. If a
production well is completed, sampling at least quarterly on a long-term basis
(longer than 2 years) should be considered.
Sufficient water to meet' existing/requested water rights
It is important to note that, because there are a limited number of production wells
in the aquifers of interest (Intermediate and Deep Aquifers as defined in the Work
Plan), it is not known whether these aquifers can supply sufficient water to meet
existing and future needs of the area. This information can only be obtained from
drilling/testing activities in these aquifers. Information obtained from tests of the
City's Bell Hill No.2 well and Lone Star's proposed initial well could be used to
evaluate the long-term developable yield of the Intermediate Aquifer. Similarly,
information obtained from drilling/testing activities in the Deep Aquifer(s) is
necessary to eval ua te its potential yield.

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July 31, 1990
Page 2
Water Quality Sampling
The Work Plan presents several reasonable arguments against the necessity of
analyzing water qua Iity samples from the Intermediate and Deep Aquifers.
However, because there is apparently little or no water quality data for these
aquifers available at this time, and because of the implications regarding public
health concerns, we suggest that it would be prudent to analyze water quality
samples from these aquifers for an extended set of constituents, including volatile
and semi-volatile organics and metals as suggested by the Department of Ecology.
Please advise if we can be of further assistance in this matter.
Very truly yours,
GRA Y & OSBORNE, INC.
T~ Vj~1v ~ f~
Tony Vivolo, P.E.
TV jbeb
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