Quarry digs up issues

Loss of prime agricultural land and air quality were major concerns Yuba County planning commissioners had with the draft environmental impact report for the proposed Ostrom Road rock quarry.

Commissioner Thomas Durham said he did not see how the restoration of agricultural land would be achieved after DeSilva Gates Construction completed mining in 20 years.

"There's no plan in place," Durham said. "I'm desperately concerned about the loss of agricultural land. Once it's gone, it's gone."

The commission didn't make any decisions Wednesday night. The final EIR is supposed to be ready in November.

The quarry is proposed for a 315-acre parcel south of Beale Air Force Base and east of the Yuba-Sutter Disposal Inc. landfill, off Ostrom Road.

According to the draft EIR, the average annual aggregate production rate would be 350,000 tons, with a permitted maximum of 600,000 tons. Of that total, up to 200,000 would be used to supply the on-site asphalt plant.

The remaining 400,000 tons of aggregate would be hauled to off-site projects by truck. Over the 20-year operational life of the quarry, the total material to be mined is estimated at 6 million cubic yards.

After mining activities are completed, the document states, the project site will be returned to its existing use of agriculture and grazing.

The project's proponent, DeSilva Gates Construction in Dublin, requested this conditional use permit in 2005.

The public's major concerns were also the loss of agricultural land as well as noise and water quality.

Commissioner Dixie Cozine said she wonders how air quality would be affected by the rock quarry.

"How will the air quality affect the residents and the base," she questioned.

Though the public hearing on the issue was closed, dozens of residents attended Wednesday's meeting.

Philip Pederson, 70, of Eric Lane — located just west of the proposed site — was concerned about the negative impacts the rock quarry would have on surrounding property owners.

"I think those impacts and the economic conditions should be weighed heavily on whether or not to approve this project," Pederson said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com