Azusa Releases Draft Environmental Impact Report On Vulcan Mining Plan
Duarte Asks SGV Communities to Weigh-In on Regional Impact
January 7, 2010
DUARTE - The City of Azusa released a 1,000 page Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the Vulcan Material Company's request for a Revised Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan. The DEIR is designed to facilitate the public review of impacts associated with the proposed project including aesthetics, air quality, water quality, hazards, land use, noise, traffic an other related areas.
As an affected neighboring community, the City of Duarte recently circulated a letter to all San Gabriel Valley communities, Chamber of Commerce's and local environmental groups requesting that these groups thoroughly review and provide written comments on the Draft Environment Impact Report (DEIR) based on the project's potential regional health and safety impacts.
The DEIR circulation process for the mining expansion project began on December 22 and will conclude at 5 p.m. on February 5, 2010. Vulcan's proposal now goes to the Azusa planning commission for a Jan. 13 study session starting at 7 p.m. Additional public hearings are scheduled for Jan. 27 and Feb. 10. The City of Duarte will be following this process closely to ensure that this extremely tight review schedule still provide for a comprehensive and accurate analysis.
The proposed revised mining plan would substitute 80 acres on the east side of the Vulcan mining area, which are acres currently approved for mining, with 80 acres on the west side of the property right on the border of Duarte. This area directly abuts the City of Duarte and is only 0.6 miles from the Fish Canyon residential neighborhood.
Other than mining the western edge of the property several alternatives are discussed in the study. Among them are continued mining on the eastern 80 acres; mining at another spot on the property like the former Fish Canyon Gun Club; or, mining both sides of the property, just less on each side. The study does not support those alternatives over Vulcan's desire for a western operation.
Vulcan's complete submittal, all technical attachments and draft Environmental Impact Report is available for viewing on the official City of Azusa website www.azusalw.com. Residents can also review the projects Notice of Preparation the City of Duarte's response to it and Duarte's most recent correspondence on the DEIR review process on the www.accessduarte.com website.
In 2008, the Duarte City Council established a $700,000 fund entitled the "Fight Against Vulcan Expansion" fund (FAVE) in response to the anticipated expansion plans by Vulcan and its potential adverse impact on Duarte residents.
For more information about the City of Duarte's Fight Against Vulcan Expansion activities, call Duarte Deputy City Manager, Karen Herrera at (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.
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