Surface Mining Advisory Committee

Purpose

The Surface Mining Advisory Committee advises the Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Department and the Whatcom County Council on implementing a surface mining regulatory program consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Meetings

  • Meeting as needed. See website calendar for upcoming meetings.
  • Meetings are open to the public. Community members who attend may provide public comment on issues related to surface mining in Whatcom County. 

Members

The Surface Mining Advisory Committee has 11 County Council-appointed members:

  • Vacant, Civil or Geo-technical Engineer with no financial business ties to the industry
  • Ryan Devries, Surface Mining Material User
  • Vacant, Geologist
  • Brent Cowden, Member of the surface mining industry
  • Brad Davis, Member of the surface mining industry
  • Kathleen Greenbaum, Forestry
  • Carl Isom-McDaniel, Potable domestic groundwater supply
  • Vacant, Ecologist
  • Vacant, Environmental Consultant
  • Vacant, Agriculture Representative
  • Vacant, Citizen who lives in close proximity to active mining or mineral overlay area

Vacancies

See the Vacancy List

Term Information

    • 4-year terms, 2 term limit, 1 year separation required before commencing another 2 full terms

Specifications

The Surface Mining Advisory Committee consists of the following:

  • Citizen who lives in close proximity to active mining or mineral overlay areas
  • Civil or Geo-technical engineer with no direct or indirect financial business ties to the industry
  • Ecologist
  • Environmental consultant
  • Geologist
  • Members of the surface mining industry (2 positions)
  • Representative of potable groundwater supply (preferably a public water system representative or private well owner),
  • Representative from agriculture
  • Someone with experience in and/or knowledge of forestry
  • Surface mining material user

Authority