Post by inthenews on Jan 28, 2009 13:41:41 GMT -8
Mining proposal at Azusa Rock Quarry angers residents
By Daniel Tedford, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/25/2009 07:21:48 PM PST
AZUSA - The mining company in charge of Azusa Rock Quarry has put a new proposal, about four inches thick, on the desk of the city officials and is on a mission to change perceptions in the community.
Vulcan Materials wants to shift a mining operation from the east side of its 270-acre property, which is well within Azusa borders. to the west side which borders Duarte, officials said.
The company hopes to sell the plan by including an updated reclamation design that would improve the look of the hills after mining, Vulcan officials said.
"We are keeping our commitment to the community to not expand and provide better aesthetics," Vulcan spokesperson Todd Priest said. "In most cases, you wouldn't know mining
Azusa based-Vulcan Materials wants to shift a mining operation from the east side of its 270-acre property to the west side of the site, which borders Duarte. (SGVN/Staff photo by Loe Jarzomb)
occurred by looking at it (from a distance)."
Some residents of Duarte believe their community's concerns are being overlooked. In recent weeks city officials have raised health and aesthetic concerns. But Azusa, not Duarte, has the power to approve the proposal.
"At this point, as in prior positions, the city (remains) opposed to any additional new mining on the west side," Duarte Deputy City Manager Karen Herrera said.
Under the current plan, the company reclaims hill sides with 20- to 40-foot walls - often referred to as Mayan steps - with foliage placed on top of each.
By moving to the west side, global satellite positioning systems would allow Vulcan to redevelop natural drainage and contours on the hills nearest Duarte, company officials said.
The new reclamation proposal also uses new technology that enables Vulcan to reduce walls to one to two feet, and eliminating larger Mayan steps.
In order to explain the proposal, Vulcan held the first of a number of planned community meetings Jan. 13.
Project managers tried to explain how Vulcan plans to stay within a proscribed limit of mining on 190 acres. But some see the informational events as propaganda presentations and aren't buying what Vulcan is selling.
Rich Deem, a member of an activist group against the mining project called Save Van Tassel, sees the swapping of the acreage as a method for Vulcan to double dip.
The company is taking the opportunity to move its operation west but at the same time benefitting by reclaiming a disturbed portion of a previous excavation, Deem said.
"It is just an excuse to mine some more rock out of the east side of the quarry," Deem said.
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