Preserve Our Islands (previously known as Protect Our Islands) is a grassroots organization, created by Senator Sharon Nelson and residents of Maury Island, Washington, United States, that is opposed to Glacier Northwest and their efforts to mine aggregate on Maury Island.
The Founding
The Northwest Aggregates Company, also known as Glacier Northwest or Glaciers, had announced that they wanted to expand their surface gravel mine in Maury Island. Specifically, in May 1998, the mining company intended to fill Seattle–Tacoma International Airport's third runway; therefore, they sought for a shoreline exemption in order to fix their broken pier and loading facility Moreover, they requested a permit that would allow them to mine 7.5 million tons (6.804 billion kg) of gravel per year. They found high levels of arsenic and lead in the soil, elements that could contaminate the island's aquifer, a permeable, underground layer of water-bed rock that acts as a reservoir for groundwater. This contamination can lead to development disabilities in humans who drink the water.