Gravel Mining in Yakima County

By DAVID LESTER YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

"County commissioners approved a final development plan Tuesday that's designed to limit impacts a pending gravel mine will have on surrounding orchards on Lateral 1 Road, northwest of Wapato. However, whether Columbia Ready-Mix will be able to begin drawing gravel from the 78-acre abandoned orchard this summer remains to be seen. The firm still must obtain a zoning permit from Yakima County and weather a competitor's appeal that claims the approval process violated the state Growth Management Act."