Azusa Releases Draft Environmental Impact Report for Vulcan’s Application for a Modified Conditional Use Permit and Amended Reclamation Plan; Duarte Asks Groups and Cities to Comment
The City of Azusa today, on its website, announced the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the Vulcan Material Company’s request for a Revised Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan. The DEIR is designed to facilitate the public review of impacts associated with the proposed project including aesthetics, air quality, water quality, hazards, land use, noise, traffic an other related areas.
As an affected neighboring community, the City of Duarte recently circulated a letter to all San Gabriel Valley communities, Chamber of Commerce’s and local environmental groups requesting that these groups thoroughly review and provide written comments on the Draft Environment Impact Report (DEIR) based on the project’s potential regional health and safety impacts. The DEIR circulation process for the mining expansion project, according to Azusa officials, began on December 22rd and will conclude at 5:00 pm on February 5, 2010.
Under the Azusa Municipal Code, the Azusa Planning Commission will be the first body to review the document occurring sometime in February 2010 with Azusa City Council hearings following likely in March. The City of Duarte will be following this process closely to ensure that this extremely tight review schedule will still provide for a comprehensive and accurate analysis that clearly addresses the Projects’ environmental consequences against its benefits.
The proposed revised mining plan would substitute 80 acres on the east side of the Vulcan mining area, which are acres currently approved for mining, with 80 acres on the west side of the property right on the border of Duarte. This area directly abuts the City of Duarte and is only 0.6 miles from our Fish Canyon residential neighborhood.
Duarte residents can find Vulcan’s complete submittal, all technical attachments and draft Environmental Impact Report on the official City of Azusa website www.azusalw.com. Residents can also review the projects Notice of Preparation the City of Duarte’s response to it and Duarte’s most recent correspondence on the DEIR review process on the www.accessduarte.com website.
In 2008, the Duarte City Council established a $700,000 fund in response to the anticipated expansion plans by Vulcan and its potential adverse impact on Duarte residents. The “Fight Against Vulcan Expansion” fund (FAVE) will allow the City of Duarte to monitor and respond to the application process involving a Conditional Use Permit and Environmental Impact Report through whatever legal and environmental means necessary.
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
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
