The following is from an email from Bill Almon, with Quarry No:
We went to the Workshop Friday and found that the County intends to let the Selenium pollution in Permanente Creek rise for the next 20 years. They agree the Selenium is there and comes from the Lehigh operation and will build up over time. However they say a treatment facility to treat the pit water is too high a cost to lay on Lehigh and that true reclamation can only occur after mining ends.
The Planning Commissioners questioned this and the County’s rush to get the EIR approved. I think if we can get a big turnout for this Thursday’s Public Hearing (10:00AM at the County Center, 70 West Hedding) we will give the Planning Commission the public support they need to say that the Reclamation Plan is unacceptable. If the Plan is approved as presented there will be little that any of us can do for the next 20 years. Please spread the word.
The meeting notice is at http://www.sccgov.org/sites/planning/Plans%20-%20Programs/Surface%20Mining%20(SMARA)/Documents/2250_Public_Notice_120524.pdf
The EIR is at: http://www.sccgov.org/sites/planning/Plans%20-%20Programs/Surface%20Mining%20(SMARA)/Pages/Permanente-Quarry–Draft-EIR.aspx It is worth reading the Executive Summary as this gives a good overview.
