DNR issues Emergency Order to mine operator at Nile Landslide

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued an Emergency Order to Suspend Surface Mining for a mine located where the Nile landslide happened (near Naches).

The October 11th landslide affected more than 80 acres, including Highway 410, the Naches River, the mine which is owned by Simmons & Son Hauling, and other lands. Several homes were damaged.

DNR issued an emergency order because the mine's operators have stated that they want to resume mining at the site, which is located on the active Nile Landslide.

"We issued the Emergency Order to Suspend Surface Mining because further mining poses an immediate danger to the public by increasing the likelihood of reinitiating the Nile Landslide," says Dave Norman, Washington State Geologist.

Norman says further mining is not authorized by the company's existing reclamation permit which was not based on the site's current conditions. The emergency order is effective until an acceptable reclamation plan is approved by DNR.

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