2,000 TRY TO STOP PIT RESIDENTS PACK GYM TO PROTEST GRAVEL PROJECT.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Nearly 2,000 Santa Clarita residents packed Canyon High's gym Wednesday night, roaring their opposition to a proposed sand and gravel mining pit.

``We have control of our own destiny,'' said Mayor Jo Anne Darcy to thunderous applause. ``Together we will stop the mine.''

Santa Clarita City Council members and 5th District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich did their best to whip up the crowd during the hour-long rally, urging residents to attend the Oct. 24 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting where the project will be considered.

Opponents of the 460-acre mine want the supervisors to follow the county Regional Planning Commission's ruling and deny a mining permit to Transit Mixed Concrete, of Asuza.

Those people who signed up to ride one of the city-sponsored buses to the supervisors hearing got free red t-shirts that blarred ``Blast the Transit Mixed Concrete Mine.'' Others paid $5 for the t-shirts.

``We live across the freeway,'' said Keith Pierce, as he held his 5-year-old daughter Jessica. ``This will affect our kids. Who knows what we will be breathing.''

TMC officials have said they will protect the environment and be a good neighbor.

Tables were set up at Canyon High along the walls for angry residents to copy a form letter to the Board of Supervisors, as many did, the line snaking around the cookie and juice table.

``We need schools,'' said Canyon Country resident Raman Kainth. ``If the mine is built, schools won't be.''

People packed 20 deep in the gym's green bleachers that were decorated with red and black baloons and streamers. They hooted and hollered as one person after another came to the microphone.

``If this passes, I'm going to move,'' said Louie Lesseos, wearing the red t-shirt. ``I would have no choice.''

City officials are up against a 1916 federal mining law that limits the ability of local governments to regulate the mining of federal land. Mine opponents are hoping to convince county officials, and ultimately a federal judge, that the mine would ruin the environment of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Opponents say the mine, south of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway between Soledad Canyon and Agua Dulce Canyon roads will harm the Santa Clara River, pollute the air and choke the freeways with traffic.

Drawing attention to the traffic concerns, a black-clad TMC witch snaked through the crowd, handing out toy cars to children at Wednesday's meeting.

``If the mine goes through, there'll be a lot more of these,'' the witch, played by Carol Rock told 5-year-old Rachael Crane of Canyon Country.

The citizens have been deprived of a chance to be heard on this project, said Antonovich.

The city has reserved $1.2 million to fight the mine, which was approved by the federal government in August. TMC plans to dig 78 million tons of sand and gravel out of the Soledad Canyon hillside over the twenty-year life of the mine.

CAPTION(S):

photo, map

Photo:

(ran in SAC edition only) Santa Clarita Valley residents attend rally to voice their opinions on proposed mining project.

Map: (ran in SAC edition only) Proposed Transit Mixed Concrete site (see text)