Rocky start for Vulcan mining plan
20 February 2005
Vulcan plans extensive reclamation project
Vulcan, Azusa officials clash over excavation
(AZUSA, California) -- Vulcan Materials Co. and Azusa city officials are in
a dispute over the company's plan to extract 80 acres of rock from the
mountains below the Angeles National Forest.
Vulcan wants to dig away at pristine hillsides in its 270-acre Azusa Rock
quarry north of the San Gabriel River, adjacent to land owned by the Angeles
National Forest and the city of Duarte.
But Azusa officials say Vulcan, which took control of the quarry in 1999 from CalMat, does not have the mining rights.
Under a 1956 agreement with Azusa, Vulcan must obtain mining permits from City Hall. The point of contention is whether mining on the 80 acres would constitute an expansion. City officials believe it does; Vulcan disagrees.
Part of the problem stems from unclear property borders, Vulcan officials said.
Both sides say they want to avoid litigation.
Vulcan hired economists, landscape architects, geologists, aesthetics consultants, hydrologists, environmental planners and engineers to develop an eight-phase plan, which includes the complete restoration of Fish Creek, which runs through the property.
Instead of restoring the hillside with traditional "Mayan' steps, Vulcan is proposing a more natural-looking background.
"When we have done our job right, you won't see a difference between what you see today and in the future,' said Jim Gore, Vulcan's manager of permitting and governmental affairs.
Vulcan Materials agreed to pay about $85,000 to hire a consultant chosen by Azusa city officials to critique the company's proposed plan to enhance the existing mining areas and fix up the hillsides, or reclaim the land, and restore the mountain to its natural state.
The report could reach the Azusa City Council by March 7.
Among the recommendations in the Sacramento-based Greystone Environmental Consultant Co.'s report, dated Jan. 27, is a performance schedule ending 2038, said Assistant City Manager Robert Person.
"It has real teeth. If (something) is not done by a designated time, we start fining them for noncompliance,' Person said.
Person said Vulcan's plan to restore the hillsides must include incentives for the city. How much is unclear at this point.
Gore said the proposed reclamation plan provides for immediate restoration versus waiting until all of the mining is completed.
He said it would be revegetated with native plants, appropriate nutrients and a self-sustaining ecology system based on natural rainfall.
Reprint from San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA)
All information and images provided by Save Van Tassel
Citizens United to Save Van Tassel Ridge
Send Page