They’re wary of quarry

Wheatland-area residents are rallying to fight a proposed aggregate quarry they claim will affect water, air and noise quality.

Resident Pete Pederson is encouraging concerned citizens to attend a community meeting on July 14, when residents can voice comments and concerns to DeSilva Gates Construction. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at the Wheatland Community Center, 101 C St.

DeSilva has filed an application with Yuba County for the Ostrom Road quarry, an aggregate mine and asphalt batch plant on 315 acres northeast of Wheatland and adjacent to Beale Air Force Base.

The mine would operate over 20 years, with the site eventually returned to agricultural and grazing land, according to the county’s Web site. DeSilva predicts an annual production of 350,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel.

Pederson, who lives on Eric Lane, just south of the proposed quarry site, said he and many other residents are upset.

“An aggregate pit is a loud, noisy, dusty operation,” Pederson said.

Residents are also concerned about the limited groundwater in the area and the possible environmental effect on Dry Creek and Best Slough, Pederson said.

The proposed site is also near several historic sites.

The meeting is an opportunity for DeSilva to talk with citizens about concerns addressed in a public scoping meeting held in December, DeSilva representative Bob McCarrick said.

Yuba County Supervisor Don Schrader, who plans to attend the meeting, said he shares the residents’ concerns.

“Yuba County has, in my opinion, enough quarries,” he said. “I’m not that excited about the prospect of another one.”

However, he will look at the project in an objective manner when it comes to the Board of Supervisors, he said. He can’t make judgments, he said, until the environmental impact report is complete.

The county anticipates the environmental impact report to be finished and released later this summer.

Appeal-Democrat intern Ashley Gebb can be reached at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com.