Fix and switch? Company seeks deal to mine Van Tassel Ridge
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
By Bethania Palma, Staff Writer
AZUSA - Mining company officials unveiled a proposal this month to repair one side of a mountain quarry to drill into another.
At a community meeting Nov. 14, Vulcan Materials Co. representatives offered to reduce their mining operation in the foothills from 270 to 190 acres and begin reclamation immediately - in exchange for access to the long-disputed area known as Van Tassel Ridge.
"You've asked us not to expand our operations, and we have heard you," said Angela Driscoll, government affairs manager for Vulcan's Western Division.
If approved, she added, the new plan would call for substituting 80 acres on the east side of the quarry for 80 acres on the west, with immediate reclamation on the former.
The reclamation process would take from five to seven years to complete, she said. Otherwise, it would wait until Vulcan's permit expires in 2038.
"We have to amend the plan such that we can continue extracting, and at the same time (reclaim) the east side once the project is approved," said Brian Anderson, director of environment, regulatory affairs and sustainable development for Vulcan.
The company is entitled to mine 190 acres at its Azusa Rock site, according to city officials. They hold a conditional use permit until 2038, which comes up for renewal in 2013.
But the 80 acres west of Fish Creek have been a point of contention since Vulcan expressed interest in mining there two years ago. In 2005, Vulcan tried to expand operations from its current acreage into the west side of the quarry, sparking opposition from residents in Duarte and Azusa.
"While the property is not in our city, the far west parcel directly faces us and visually impacts our city," said Duarte City Manager Darrell George. "That's always been our issue. It's visual blight we're concerned with."
The company and Azusa officials have since been in disagreement over whether Vulcan has the right to expand.
City officials maintain the company must go through a permitting process before mining the additional acreage, while the company believes that since they've owned the property with intention to mine for years, they have the right to mine the entire quarry.
The disagreement led to talk of litigation in the past, officials said.
Azusa City Manager Fran Delach said the latest plan is a compromise. Vulcan is offering to go through the process of getting a conditional-use permit and to restore the east side to its natural appearance in exchange for mining the west without a lawsuit, he said.
Opponents said it's another attempt by Vulcan to mine Van Tassel Ridge.
"My understanding is they're cutting out the area they've already mined and adding acres they haven't," said Ryan Nevins, a member of the grass-roots group Save Van Tassel.
The group formed in 2005 in opposition to Vulcan's proposed mining expansion. Residents at a Wednesday night meeting were not pleased with the company's latest proposal.
"They've already scarred the east side," said resident Lucy Shelton. "I think it would be better if they left the west side alone, leave it as pristine as it is."
Resident Lou Pattini agreed.
"The sidewalks are filthy, the median is filthy," he said. "They're going to stop on one side and tear up the other side. I don't like it."
While some residents expressed health concerns from the dust, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials said dangerous, disease-causing particle levels near the Azusa rock site generally don't exceed health standards.
A 2006 AQMD report said particulate matter collected in Azusa and Duarte is consistent with that produced at the mining site, but could not conclusively link them because the materials are also common throughout the South Coast Air Basin.
AQMD officials said they started monitoring particulate matter near in Duarte and Azusa in 2005.
Company officials added that the quarry provides essential materials for local building projects. Moving the site, they said, would lead to more vehicle emissions and higher costs.
Jorge Rosales, a city planning commissioner, said Vulcan will have to submit a formal application to the city requesting a revision of their current 190-acre plan before it's considered for approval.
Vulcan representatives said the new plan goes above and beyond state requirements and industry standards for land reclamation.
"We have been here a long time and have been active with the community for a long time," said Atisthan Roach, manager of community and media relations. "A lot of us grew up in this area. We work here and are raising our kids here. We have a lot vested here as well."
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