Controversial Azuza Mining Plan To Be Put To a Vote January 25

The controversial plan to expand rock mining westward at Azusa Rock Quarry will be put to a citywide vote at a special election on January 25, the Azusa City Council has decided.

Opponents of the expanded mining had gathered 2,088 valid signatures on petitions calling for a vote on the plan approved by the Council in a 4-1 vote in July. That left the Council only two options - rescind their approval of the mining plan, or schedule a citywide election. After some discussion on October 18, the Council members set a special election for January 25, which will cost the city about $60,000 more than simply including the mining question in the City Council election scheduled for March.

At issue is Vulcan Materials Company's plan to expand its rock mining westward, taking 700 feet off the top of Van Tassel Ridge adjacent to Duarte. The rock would be taken to the company's Reliance aggregate processing plant in Irwindale.

The project's Environmental Impact Report mentioned, but did not evaluate, an alternative that would have avoided heavily damaging Van Tassel Ridge by instead doing a reduced amount of mining in previously disturbed areas.

In a concession to hikers seeking better access to Fish Canyon Falls, the project's development agreement included a provision for Vulcan to provide an acre of land for parking and a trail easement through Vulcan's property on the east side of Fish Creek.

Many residents of Duarte and Azusa, as well as the City of Duarte and the Sierra Club, opposed the Vulcan plan at hearings before Azusa's Planning Commission and City Council. After the Azusa Council approved the plan, the City of Duarte filed a lawsuit contesting the adequacy of the project's Environmental Impact Report, as well as alleged violations of the Brown Act by the Azusa City Council in its handling of the project's conditional use permit, development agreement and reclamation plan.

The January 25 vote will be on the development agreement that specifies mining fees and other benefits negotiated by the city. Opponents are confident that nullifying that agreement will stop the mining expansion.

Sierra Club members living in Azusa are urged to learn about the referendum by visting the website of Azusans Against Mining Expansion at www.nominingexpansion. org and participating in this important issue that will determine mining's future in Azusa.