Four parties in discussions around protecting Sequalitchew Creek from potential impacts from a proposed gravel mine expansion near DuPont report they are close to signing a new memorandum of understanding.

CalPortland (formerly Glacier Northwest), Town of DuPont, Washington Department of Ecology and a coalition of environmental interests have verbally agreed on a process outline the four will use to consider revisions to the company's proposed project.

The new memorandum is rooted in a 1994 settlement agreement between Lone Star Northwest (Glacier and CalPortland's predecessor), Ecology, DuPont and the environmental community that settled two decades of environmental disputes and appeals of shoreline development plans.

Along with a mining expansion, the company has now proposed a dewatering plan featuring a 4,000-foot engineered channel that would flow into Sequalitchew Creek and support fish.

"We believed the 1994 settlement agreement would protect Sequalitchew Creek forever," said Tom Skjervold, the Nisqually Delta Association president. "We're at the table to ensure that the promises of the 1994 Settlement Agreement are kept."

To read the draft memorandum of understanding, visit the city of DuPont's Web site.