Panel Rejects Plan for Mining Gravel

Citing the potential negative impact on air quality and visual blight, the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission took the first step Wednesday toward rejecting a proposed Santa Clarita-area mining operation.

“What it boils down to is the quality of life for 250,000 people or the materials the project could produce,” said Commissioner George Pederson, who represents the Santa Clarita Valley. “I happen to lean in the direction of quality of life.”

The project was unanimously rejected by the commission, which will consider it again early next year.

Transit Mixed Concrete officials, who have spent close to nine years developing the project, said they are confident the project can meet environmental standards and plan to appeal the decision before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The company proposed mining 83 million tons of gravel and sand from a 500-acre site near the eastern border of Santa Clarita over 20 years, said company spokesman Brian Mastin.

Santa Clarita opposed the project. Not only was the environmental report “totally inadequate,” but the pit could adversely affect nearby residential areas within city limits, said Santa Clarita Planning Director Jeff Lambert.

Santa Clarita’s state and federal representatives were also opposed to the project: U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, state Sen. William “Pete” Knight and Assemblyman George Runner, all Republicans.

McKeon, who had introduced a bill that would have put the site off-limits, called the decision great news in a written statement.

“I expect this will be appealed to the Board of Supervisors, but it will be awfully hard for the Board of Supervisors to justify overturning a 5-0 vote, especially one like this where there has been such extensive public comment and opposition,” he said.