Sand and Gravel General Permit

The Sand and Gravel General Permit regulates discharges of process water, stormwater, and water from mine dewatering into waters of the state associated with sand and gravel operations, rock quarries, and similar mining operations. The permit also covers concrete batch operations and hot-mix asphalt operations.

Untreated water that discharges from sand and gravel operations may harm fish, aquatic life, and water quality.

The current permit went into effect April 1, 2021, and expires March 31, 2026.

Join our Sand and Gravel email list to receive notifications about this permit.

Current permit documents

Permit reissuance

We held a public comment period on the draft permit from Aug. 6, 2025, through Oct. 10, 2025. We are reviewing and considering all comments recieved on the draft general permit document. We will develop a final draft of the permit based on comments and publish an official Response to Comments as an appendix to the fact sheet. A final decision on permit issuance is expected in early 2026.

Forms – revised and new

Public involvement

We announced the draft general permit and in early September we hosted two public meetings with informational presentations and question and answer sessions to help explain our proposed changes to the draft permit. These meetings were immediately followed by hearings, that provided opportunity for formal spoken testimony. 

Public notices and publications

Anticipated timeline

October 2025 – early 2026: Development of the final permit
Spring 2026: Decision on reissuance
March 31, 2026: Current permit expires
April 1, 2026: New permit term starts

Do I need a permit?

You may need a Sand and Gravel General Permit if your facility:

  • Discharges process water, stormwater, or mine dewatering water into waters of the state.
  • Is associated with sand and gravel operations, concrete batch plants, or asphalt batch plants.

You may need a portable operation permit if you move from site to site to:

  • Crush rock
  • Make concrete
  • Make asphalt

Concrete characterization study

Concrete is widely used in construction because it is resilient, affordable, and easily available. At the end of their use, concrete structures and products are demolished into rubble (broken up pieces). This rubble can get stored, recycled and reused as building material. Once concrete has hardened into the durable material we commonly see, such as sidewalks or building foundations, it becomes an impervious surface, meaning rainwater runs off of it. However, when concrete is broken up into rubble and stored in piles waiting to be recycled, rainwater can flow through the piles.

Recently, we reviewed over 200 articles, reports, and papers published in the U.S. and internationally to help us understand what happens when rainwater interacts with concrete rubble and what potential pollutants might leach out into the water. The literature review found a list of potential pollutants associated with storing concrete rubble. However, none of the studies we reviewed had information on environmental impacts specific to concrete mixtures made in Washington. For more details, read our report: Recycled Concrete Aggregate Leachate: A Literature Review.

As a follow up to the literature review, we are studying 80 facilities to determine if Washington rainwater is picking up contaminants, and if so, to what degree. We measured pH, metals, and other properties of the water that could effect waterbodies and we will use this information to determine if permit updates are needed to better protect the environment.

For more information about this study, see our blog about this project, and the Quality Assurance Project Plan containing a detailed explanation of the study's methods and procedures.

Permit application, forms, and resources

For help, please contact:

For facilities located in the following counties:

Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima

Alex Barnes
alex.barnes@ecy.wa.gov
509-746-8415

Help applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Joy Espinoza
crowqpermits@ecy.wa.gov
509-379-3967

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Sand and Gravel Permit Coordinator
Washington Department of Ecology
Central Regional Office
1250 W. Alder St.
Union Gap, WA 98903-0009

For facilities located in the following counties:

Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman

David Ennis
David.Ennis@ecy.wa.gov
509-220-9194

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Sand and Gravel Permit Manager
Washington Department of Ecology
Eastern Regional Office
4601 N. Monroe St., Suite 202
Spokane, WA 99205-1295

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

Island, King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties
Matt Crandell
matt.crandell@ecy.wa.gov
206-600-0072

San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties
Logan Newsom
logan.newsom@ecy.wa.gov
206-600-0235

Help applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

Tricia Miller
tricia.miller@ecy.wa.gov
206-594-0167

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Sand and Gravel Permit Coordinator
Washington Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
PO Box 330316
Shoreline, WA 98133-9716

For facilities located in the following counties:

Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties
Dincer Kayhan
dincer.kayhan@ecy.wa.gov 
360-280-7374

Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, and Pierce counties
Eli Newby
eli.newby@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6292

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Sand and Gravel Permit Coordinator
Washington Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
P.O. Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775