SENATOR BLASTS QUARRIES BOXER BILL WOULD HALT 2 SOLEDAD CANYON LEASES.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Legislation to terminate two mining leases in Soledad Canyon will be introduced next month by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., paving the way for federal regulations against massive sand and gravel quarries in the region.

Boxer's announcement Thursday heralded high praise by local environmentalists and Santa Clarita officials, who for years have said the proposed massive sand and gravel quarry by Transit Mixed Concrete/Cemex Mine would destroy habitats for animals in the Santa Clara River, increase air pollution by clogging highways and threaten the Santa Clarita Valley's water supply.

Boxer's bill would not only terminate the two leases, but also prohibit issuance of further mine leases for sand and gravel in Soledad Canyon. It would further put a federal mandate in place that all future leases would be required to be discussed by the Secretary of the Interior and the city of Santa Clarita.

``The city of Santa Clarita and over 80 organizations oppose these mining leases,'' Boxer said in a statement. ``This increase in mining would worsen already poor air quality in Santa Clarita, and would create tremendous traffic congestion for local residents.''

City and environmental groups have said the Santa Clarita Valley leads the nation in unhealthy smog days, with 32 federal violations in 2002. This year, the number of unhealthy days will likely surpass last year's figures.

U.S. Rep. Howard P. Buck McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, introduced a House version of Boxer's bill last month, basing his legislation on the environmental impact the quarry would create. His legislation would reduce proposed operations by Cemex to historic levels.

``Expansion of mining operations in Soledad Canyon would have a devastating impact on our community,'' McKeon said in a past interview. ``The most recent projections estimate that up to 582 trucks would make round trips to the site every day and exacerbate our community's traffic and air quality problems.''

The dispute over the mine began a decade ago, when the federal government awarded two 10-year contracts to Cemex to mine the rich aggregate deposits in Canyon Country - up to 576 tons of aggregate from the Soledad Canyon hillside - in return for royalty payments of $28 million.

The city has spent more than $2.5 million over the last three years - with mixed results - in an effort to derail plans for the mine.

Both sides also have shared rounds of victories and defeats. While a federal judge sided with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who reported that the quarry would not harm an endangered fish in the Santa Clara River, the South Coast Quality Management District said earlier this month that mining could have a larger environmental impact than previously believed.

City Manager Ken Pulskamp said the addition of Boxer's bill would bolster efforts to protect Santa Clarita on a state and national level.

``It makes it so we would be protected from having the mine in that area of Santa Clarita,'' he said. ``This is a legislative solution to what otherwise would be an environmental catastrophe in Santa Clarita. This is a fight that the City Council is absolutely giving it all to protect the city of Santa Clarita Valley. We're doing everything we can to not end up with a mega mine.''

Brian Mastin, spokesman for Transit Mixed Concrete/Cemex, said the company remains dedicated to completing a mediation process among the federal government, Los Angeles County and his corporation.

``We are continuing to work on mediation progress and we are committed to the implementation to the project,'' he said. ``We hope to have a successful mediation between the U.S. and ourselves, and we hope the three parties can reach a settlement.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com