Federal judge upholds decision to deny permits to expanded Belfair gravel mine
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A federal judge has upheld a decision by the Mason County Hearing Examiner to overturn a surface mining permit for a 66.5-acre gravel mine in Belfair.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled on June 7 that a Mason County Hearing Examiner was correct in upholding a decision by Mason County to rescind a surface-mining permit for Grump Ventures LLC for the mine being planned on a hillside above Hood Canal, about 4.5 miles from Belfair on North Shore Road.
The case made its way to federal court after Russell Scott, owner of Grump Ventures LLC, appealed the decision filed by the Mason County Hearing Examiner in Thurston County Superior Court but claimed his constitutional right of due process was harmed in the permit s denial, moving the case to federal court.