Ranch Quarry Near Sumas Enters Environmental Review

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — County officials have opened a key phase of environmental review for a proposed open-pit rock quarry near Sumas and are now asking the public for input.

The project, known as the Ranch Quarry, sits off South Pass Road southeast of Sumas. Whatcom County Planning and Development Services leads the review under the State Environmental Policy Act.

Public Comment Period Now Open

The county opened a 30-day public comment period on April 29. It closes at 4:30 p.m. May 29, 2026. Officials want feedback on environmental impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures.

Residents, agencies, and tribal governments can all submit comments. Furthermore, a virtual public meeting is set for May 13 at 6 p.m. for those who want to provide verbal comment.

Project Details and Scale

Cowden Inc., now owned by Holcim, submitted the proposal. The plan calls for a 64 to 70-acre open-pit quarry within a larger site of more than 100 acres. The county designates the land for mineral resource use. Crews would clear about 65 acres of forest, and the site could produce approximately 13.7 million cubic yards of rock over more than 50 years. Operators would run the quarry up to 12 hours per day, six days a week. The extracted material would supply roads, railroads, and ports.

Residents note the site sits near the Peaceful Valley and Columbia Valley areas southeast of Sumas, not directly on Sumas Mountain. That’s a distinction local community members want on the record.

Community Concerns

Local residents and the group Homeowners Opposed to Mine Expansion (HOME) have organized in opposition. Their concerns center on potential asbestos exposure from serpentine rock on the site. Additionally, they worry about impacts to groundwater, private wells, and wetlands in the Saar Creek watershed.

Truck traffic is another pressure point, with estimates showing about 25 daily trips under normal operations and potentially double that during peak periods on rural roads not built for that volume.

The county revised the proposed mining area from the original application, in part to avoid potential asbestos zones within serpentine rock. A concession that reflected early review concerns but has not fully satisfied opponents.

What the EIS Will Cover

County officials will study a wide range of environmental factors. These include air quality, greenhouse gases, surface water and groundwater, wildlife, vegetation, and wetlands.

The review will also examine noise, historic and cultural resources, land use, and transportation impacts. Planners will compare two options: building the quarry as proposed, or taking no action.

What Happens Next

The county plans to release a draft EIS in summer or fall 2026, followed by a final EIS in late 2026 or early 2027. The Whatcom County Hearing Examiner will review the findings and make the final permit decision.

Comments submitted during this scoping phase will shape what the EIS analyzes.

The county will open another comment period after the draft EIS publishes. All submitted comments become part of the public record and may appear in future environmental documents.

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