Category: NPDES Timeline

Ecology published a second draft permit modification, which included NPDES compliance criteria in specific monitoring locations for specific constituents that more accurately reflect background water quality.

A six and a half day hearing began in front of the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) to hear the Crown/Kinross appeal of the NPDES permit Ecology issued in February 2014. OHA participated as interveners on behalf of Ecology.

The Washington State Court of Appeals held a hearing for arguments over the renewed permit

Crown Resources filed a petition for review of the PCHB’s decision

After over 30 meetings with the mining company and their consultants, Ecology presented a draft NPDES permit to the public for comment–OHA submitted over 200 pages of comments

Crown/Kinross and Ecology settled the penalty for the permit violations, in order to break through the deadlock and start finding solutions to the water quality problems at the mine. The penalty settlement forgave all previous water quality violations at the mine, and agreed to a timetable for the issuance of the discharge permit and other provisions.

15 months overdue, the second NPDES permit was issued, which Crown/Kinross appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) the next day

The first Buckhorn Mine NPDES permit expired, but was temporarily extended due to complications from the permit violations

The WA State Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued Crown/Kinross a $395,000 penalty–the largest in state history–for significant permit violations

Ferry County Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith heard and denied Crown Resources/Kinross’ appeal of the PCHB July 2015 decision, upholding the NPDES permit