CITY BACKS PROPOSED MINE RULE PLAN TO PROTECT AIR AND ENVIRONMENT WINS SUPPORTERS.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - A proposed rule that would help reduce emissions produced by gravel mines Gravel mines, also called Button mines were small U.S. made air-dropped anti-personnel mines. They were used extensively during the Vietnam War as part of the McNamara Line. such as the quarry planned by Cemex Inc. in Soledad Canyon Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce. is being backed by Santa Clarita officials, who are expected to attend a public hearing today to testify in favor of the initiative. City Manager Ken Pulskamp is scheduled to speak at a South CoastAir Quality Management District meeting this morning in favor of Proposed Rule 1157, which if approved, would force gravel mine operations to reduce ``fugitive dust sources including loading and unloading activities, process equipment, open storage piles, unpaved and paved roads inside the facilities and out.'' The proposed rule ``establishes requirements for aggregate and related operations,'' according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the AQMD AQMD Air Quality Management District AQMD Action Quake Map Depot . City officials have long opposed the Cemex project, saying the Mexico- based company's plan to mine 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel in Soledad Canyon would result in diminished air quality, reduce water levels from wells, and cause more traffic on area roads. ``Our city is in full support of Proposed Rule 1157,'' Pulskamp said in a prepared statement. ``We want to see better testing methods, more enforceable air quality standards for the mining industry, as well as on-site monitoring and increased enforcement that will help determine pollutants being emitted and protect human health.'' Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County initially rejected the mine but grudgingly granted the mining permit in June under a court-approved consent decree A settlement of a lawsuit or criminal case in which a person or company agrees to take specific actions without admitting fault or guilt for the situation that led to the lawsuit. A consent decree is a settlement that is contained in a court order. , which also imposed a slate of environmental mitigations on the mine. Both the county and city are appealing the case, claiming the decree and the environmental impact report violate CEQA CEQA California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 , the federal Clean Water and Clean Air acts, and the National Environmental Policy Act. The city also is suing the county, saying officials failed to analyze the mine's impacts. U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, also is working to reach a compromise with Cemex officials to either reduce production or find another location for the operation. Santa Clarita officials said PR 1157 would require operators to use nonchloride soil stabilizers at facilities, which would be an alternative to using water. The proposed rule is expected to be voted on by the AQMD Governing Board after the review period ends. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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