County between a rock, hard place.

Byline: RICHARD ANGSTROM For The Register-Guard

THE OREGON CONCRETE and Aggregate Producers Association represents the construction materials industries of Oregon. Our organization represents nearly 200 asphalt, concrete, aggregate (rock) and related companies from around the state. Our Eugene member companies include Delta Sand & Gravel, Egge Sand & Gravel, Eugene Sand & Gravel, and Wildish Sand & Gravel.

There is no question that rock is the foundation of all construction. The home you live in, the office you work in and the roads you drive on all come from rock resources. Good rock resources are a rarity, but when found they provide for superior homes and a longer life for our roads and bridges.

Unfortunately, many people believe that all rock is the same; that is simply not true. Rock is of a wide range of quality, durability and usefulness. Useful construction rock does not occur everywhere; it is found only where mother nature puts it.

Local siting of rock mines has been a difficult political process for nearly two decades. As Oregon has become more populated, traditional rural businesses such as mining, farming and timber harvesting have continued to come under increased local scrutiny. Communities need low-cost rock. Yet they continue to struggle with where to get this valuable resource and and how to get it to market. Unfortunately for communities, the political dilemma never goes away because rock sites are always wanted in someone else's "back yard."

Demand for rock in Lane County is substantial. In the reporting year of 1999, Lane County consumed roughly 5.9 million tons of rock; in the year 2000, roughly 5.8 million tons of rock; and during this past year roughly 4.3 million tons of rock. Lane County's population of 322,959 uses about 13 tons of rock per person per year. Most, if not all, of this product came from the four companies listed above, including Eugene Sand & Gravel.

In 1996, OCAPA - in concert with the Oregon Farm Bureau, Associated Oregon Counties and representatives from the governor's office - agreed to a process to site aggregate mines statewide. The aggregate industry worked out several compromises with the farmers to protect valuable farmland and farming practices, while still allowing the aggregate industry to continue to provide valuable rock products to Oregon's communities.

When the new rules were proposed, farmers, local governments and the aggregate industry agreed to and supported the new Goal 5 aggregate siting rules.

Goal 5 outlines a decision-making process that is clear. First, local governments must determine whether there is enough rock to make the site a statewide significant resource. This entails analyzing the amount of rock accessible or mineable on the proposed site and the quality or hardness of the rock.

Second, local governments must identify conflicts with surrounding land uses such as transportation, noise, dust, and agricultural practices. Identified conflicts cannot be determined from unverified statements or concerns of people, but must be based on verified facts supported by experts or studies. Once these conflicts, if any, are identified, the county is to determine "reasonable and practical measures" that would minimize those conflicts. Conflicts do not need to be eliminated, but reduced to the point where they no longer have a significant impact. Once conflicts are minimized, the county has no other choice but to allow mining.

There is no question that the siting of Eugene Sand & Gravel's proposed mine has been a difficult decision for Lane County. On one hand, the Lane County Board of Commissioners seems to be aware that a denial of Eugene Sand & Gravel's application will cost the community one of its oldest and most civic-minded companies. On the other hand, the commissioners have to evaluate any legitimate concerns of its citizens in order to protect the environment and surrounding land uses.

The political pressure in this situation is enormous and appears to be affecting people's objectivity. In fact, the political pressure surrounding this decision is as severe as I have ever seen. Hopefully, fairness and objectivity required by law are not discarded as an inconvenient political obstacle.

The citizens of Lane County will ultimately lose if emotion replaces contemplation. We all need to sit back, take a deep breath, and allow the commissioners to take off their political hats and put on their judicial robes, so that they can be fair to both sides and objectively apply the facts as they see them to the rule of law.

In aggregate siting decisions county commissioners act as judges; we all need to afford them the same degree of respect to preserve the integrity of the process.

Richard Angstrom is managing director of the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association.