May 19, 2010
Azusa Council Rejects Vulcan Expansion; Van Tassel Ridge Spared
Following six hours of public comment and presentations by staff, city consultants, and Vulcan representatives on the project, the Azusa City Council voted to not approve a Revised Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Reclamation Plan for Vulcan’s 270 acre Property.
Mayor Joe Rocha and Council members Robert Gonzales and Uriel Macias cast the deciding vote.
One of the main stickling points for the majority of the council boiled down to doubts that Vulcan could succeed in the superior reclamation plan it promised utilizing a questionable micro-benching technique. Two-foot micro-benches would replace the 40-foot Mayan steps approved under the current plan. The smaller benches would be planted with seeds of native vegetation to reclaim the mined areas
“We’ve heard the word superior tossed around on the reclamation that would happen,” said Rocha. “Yet, on the [staff] report, the project area primarily composed of rock, steep topography and thin soil is generally not susceptible to growth… For vegetation cover, standards are 40%. If you go to any school, 40% is an F… For me 40% is not superior reclamation,” said Rocha.
Rocha also questioned Vulcan’s motives for wanting to move its mining operations from the approved eastern portion of its property with 106.5 million tons of aggregate to the west with 105.6 million tons.
“This has bothered me. Why would you want to transfer to an area that will give you one millions tons less? In addition you will be spending $40 million to micro-bench the entire area, plus a $1.5 million payment in addition to $500,000 a year, in addition to $75,000 in scholarships. At this point, to me, it makes no sense why you would spend all that extra money when according to the records it’s not going to work,” said Rocha.
“We thank the Mayor and his two colleagues for their thoughtful consideration of the documents before them, said Duarte City Manager Darrell George. “We concur with their hopes for a better plan for the entire San Gabriel Valley.”
However, Councilman Uriel Macias did join Councilmen Keith Hanks, and Angel Carrillo in approving the Environmental Impact Report on the plan submitted by Vulcan Materials Company to expand its mining operations to 80 pristine acres above Duarte.
Councilman Keith Hanks was the most outspoken in favor of approving the entire package, warning that if the Council did not approve the plan Vulcan would continue to mine the east side and cut a “V trench” on a currently untouched mountain “that will be visible from Mountain Cove” and be reclaimed with the larger benching. “That is the project alternative. That is a much worse visual impact that we will ever see than going to the west and that will be our legacy to Azusa if we say no.”
But “no” a majority of the council said with only Carrillo and Hanks voting to approve the plan.
Prior to the vote, Councilman Macias asked David Donaldson, representing the Vulcan corporate office from Birmingham, Alabama if the Council were to deny the plan would Vulcan be willing to “sit down with us and work on a better plan” that would include “better conditions of approval, better defined financial safeguards, environmental safeguards that are important to us and to our neighbors.” Donaldson answered yes.
Vulcan has a permit from the City of Azusa to mine 190 acres of its 270-acre property. It is seeking approval to move its mining operations from the currently approved 80 acres on the east side of its property to 80 acres on the west above Duarte.
In 2008, the Duarte City Council established a $700,000 fund entitled the “Fight Against Vulcan Expansion” fund (FAVE) in response to the anticipated expansion plans by Vulcan and its potential adverse impact on Duarte residents. For more information about the City of Duarte’s Fight Against Vulcan Expansion activities, call Duarte Deputy City Manager, Karen Herrera at (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.
Documents related to Vulcan Mining Proposal
Duarte letter re: May 17, 2010 Meeting
Duarte letter to Azusa re: Supplemental Analysis Volumetric, May 17, 2010
Effects on Van Tassel Watershed, May 12, 2010
Vulcan Even Swap Discredited, May 12, 2010
Duarte letter re: Slope Stability, May 13, 2010
Duarte letter re: Watershed, May 13, 2010
Duarte Letter to Azusa re: May 17, 2010 Hearing
Azusa Schedules Meeting for May 3 April 29, 2010
Azusa Cancels April 26 Meeting April 26, 2010
Vulcan on Shaky Ground, April 22, 2010
Duarte Letter On Noticing to Azusa, April 19, 2010
AQMD Issues Another Comment Letter to Azusa Citing Additional Public Health Concerns About Vulcan’s Proposed Expanded Mining Project Article April 19, 2010
Congresswoman Chu Eye Opener April 17, 2010
Facts and speculation about Vulcan Mining, April 7, 2010
Geological Study Findings
Geologist Letter
Between a rock and a beatiful place
Letter to San Gabriel Valley Tribune
AQMD EIR Review Letter
Letter to the Editor
Letter to Barry Wallerstein, AQMD
Azusa seeks financial safety net for mining proposal
Letters to the editor: Standing together
Letter to the editor: What about Glendora?
Azusa City Manager questions Duarte's motives, credibility regarding mining proposal
City Manager Darrell George's Statement
Vulcan Hasn't Kept Promises
San Gabriel Mining Proposal Upsets Residents, March 18, 2010, ABC Local
Mining Proposal Maddens Duarte, March 18, 2010, LA Times
Azusa mining battle sounds familiar to old timers
Duarte Letter to Azusa City Council
Glendora Comment Letter
No major impact on air from Azusa mining, regulators say, February 28, 2010, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Mayor Makes Special Delivery to Azusa February 17, 2010
AQMD Comment Letter
Antonovich Letter
Sierra Club Comments on EIR
Pasadena Star News Article by Mayor Margaret Finlay & Councilman John Fasana
Azusa Planning Commission agenda and documents (below)
PC Staff Report Final 2-24-10
ExhibitA-D
CUP Reso Final 2-24-10
EIR Reso - Final 2-24-10
Development Agreement Reso - Final 2-24-10
Development Agreement
Save Our Canyon Comments
Duarte City Official Comments on Vulcan EIR 80 pages, February 18, 2010
DUSD Resolution
Letter from Duarte Legal Counsel to Azusa
Letter from Congressmember Judy Chu
Material Safety Data Sheet on Vulcan
Air Quality Report
Vulcan News on www.dctvduarte.com
Letter to the Planning Commission February 2010
Portantino Support Letter February 2010
Impact to Mountain Aesthetics January 2010
Letter from Duarte Attorneys to Azusa Planning Commission January 13, 2010
Azusa Notice of Preparation EIR Letter May 12, 2009
Notice of Preparation Response Letter June 9, 2009
Notice of Draft EIR December 2009
Request Response to EIR December 2009
Report Outlines Azusa Mining Impacts on Duarte, December 23,2009, Pasadena Star News
Azusa City Politics and Dust from the San Gabriels San Gabriel Valley Tribune June 29, 2009
City of Azusa Response to San Gabriel Valley Tribune Article June 30, 2009
