The primary responsibilities of the Pits & Quarries Division are:

• To supply and stockpile materials for road maintenance activities.
• To provide materials storage areas.
• To provide staging areas for road projects.

Supplying Materials  

• Directly affects the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Division of Public Works.
• Enables the Maintenance Crew easy access to the necessary rock, pit run gravel, and other materials used to complete road maintenance projects in a timely fashion.
• This service allows for the least impact on county residents and visitors.
• Minimal cost to county taxpayers.

Storage Areas

• Pits provide storage areas for materials purchased for M&O road maintenance use.
• Staging areas for contracted road construction projects.
• Security at all hours for pits and quarries is high.

Mining Operations

• No mining currently occurs at the several pits and quarries located throughout Whatcom County.
• Currently, there are two active pits, Siper and Abel, permitted for mining pit runs.
• Private companies are contracted to crush rock and stockpile it at the pits. 

Monitoring for Water Quality

• Every active pit and quarry is monitored for water quality.
• Monitoring is undertaken in areas that accumulate stormwater runoff.
• The Washington Department of Ecology receives quarterly reports on the data.