Sand & 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 on March 31, 2026.

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

Current permit documents

Historical permit documents

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 are measuring pH, metals, and other properties of the water that could effect waterbodies and we will determine if permit updates are needed to better protect the environment.

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

Information about past permit reissuance events, documents, presentations, and expired permits

For help, please contact:

For facilities located in the following counties:

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

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

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 & Gravel Permit Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
Central Regional Office
1250 West Alder Street
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

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions, applying for coverage, finding or completing forms, or drafting public notices:

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

Mail forms to:

Attn: WQ Sand & Gravel Permit Manager
Department of Ecology
Eastern Regional Office
4601 North Monroe Street, Suite 202
Spokane WA 99205-1295

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

Island, King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties
Jay Fennell
jay.fennell@ecy.wa.gov
425-240-4234

San Juan and Skagit counties
Sylvia Graham
sylvia.graham@ecy.wa.gov
360-927-4900

Whatcom County
Jen Baptist
Permit Manager
jen.baptist@ecy.wa.gov
564-565-0327

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 & Gravel Permit Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
PO Box 330316
Shoreline, WA 98133-9716

Help with permit requirements or site-specific questions:

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

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

Jen Smith
jen.smith@ecy.wa.gov
360-584-8214

Mail forms to:

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