Crook County residents press officials over groundwater concerns as state asks for hold on Knife River permit review

On Oct. 2, 2024, Crook County officials and dozens of neighbors spent the bulk of a county commissioners meeting debating whether the county should act to stop washing operations connected to Knife River’s Woodward and Veneer sites after a state agency requested more time to assess groundwater impacts.

County staff told the panel and the public that a letter the county received—signed by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (Dogami) and noting concerns from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)—asks for a hold on the review of a proposed modification to Knife River’s permit. "The letter is signed by Dogami, but doesn't say that the hold has been approved," a county official said, urging caution and noting that the request asks for additional data and funding to support sampling.

Neighbors and local volunteers pressed for firmer action, citing years of water-quality complaints. "DEQ is actually really helping us because they're the ones that came out with this letter," said Tracy Atterback, a Prineville resident who has participated in local advocacy. Several neighbors described changes in taste and color of well water, the need to purchase filtration systems, and a pattern of what they said were permit violations by Knife River, including past dewatering that resulted in a DEQ enforcement action.

County staff said the letter asks reviewers to gather evidence and that county code requires a legal showing of material misrepresentation or regulatory violation before the county can modify or revoke a conditional use permit. "The burden to suspend, modify, or revoke their permit is on us, and it has to be a violation of the applicable criteria," a staff member said. The county requested that residents who are willing to allow sampling sign up so state agencies can collect the data they need.

Technical questions dominated public testimony: local geologist Jim Newton and others explained how mining and ponding of wash fines can concentrate dissolved solids and potentially affect the alluvial aquifer. Several speakers urged the county simply to stop washing while testing proceeds; county staff countered that suspending operations without evidence could undermine any later enforcement action or be vulnerable to legal challenge.

Officials said DEQ has asked for help contacting neighbors and for testing access. The county said the agencies are working on a sampling protocol and funding and that DEQ indicated the targeted sampling could begin in October if funding and access are in place. The county encouraged residents to provide specific, documented evidence (dates, complaint numbers or prior enforcement records) that would support modification or revocation proceedings.

Next steps: county staff said they would follow up with DEQ and Dogami to clarify the status of the hold request, pursue outstanding enforcement records and fines, gather any resident-submitted documentation, and prepare comments to Dogami on the proposed expansion. The board directed staff to continue pursuing information and to coordinate with state agencies and the affected neighbors.

What remained unresolved at the meeting was whether the county can legally suspend current washing operations before state reviewers complete their testing and whether that would strengthen or weaken the case for later action. Residents left the meeting encouraged that state agencies had expressed concern in writing; county staff left the meeting asking for specific, provable records residents could share to support local legal action.