One Mine Closed Another Proposed

By Carol Perkins

New Era Mine

On October 9, 2009 Butte County Superior Court Judge Stephen E. Bensen found the New Era Mine operators and the County in violation of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) and ordered the mine closed immediately. Nearly two years have passed since residents along Dry Creek and downstream from the mine first witnessed water quality impairments in the stream and notified the County and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Cease and desist orders were issued and the respective reports indicated multiple SMARA violations, significant disturbance to the ecosystem surrounding Dry Creek, violations of Waste Discharge Requirements, no reclamation bond on file, and no stream bank alteration agreement with the Department of Fish and Game.

Surprisingly, despite the grievous conduct of the mine operators, violations of the Public Resource Code, and lack of records and reporting, the County passed Resolution 08-104 in August 2008 allowing the continued operation of the mine under the 1982 permit. This Resolution also sidestepped another law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which would have required an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). Here’s to a future a little more bright, in which our Supervisors recognize the importance of following all the laws established to help protect the environment and the well-being of all who share Earth’s habitat.

Power House Road

The Hearst Corporation hopes to sell 500+ acres of agricultural land to Granite Construction for expansion of their Power House Road aggregate mine. Almost 90% of this land is currently used for field and tree crops. The Natural Resource Conservation Service has classified 280 acres as prime farmland. Granite Construction seeks a 50-year permit that allows open-pit mining to depths of 40 and 50 feet bgs (below ground surface) and the extraction of 1,000,000 tons of aggregate annually; converting 461 acres to wasteland – leaving less than 10% of the parcel to open land. Many of the residents believe that gold rather than aggregate is the primary interest behind this project.

Butte County Department of Development Services has performed an initial assessment of the project concluding an Environmental Impact Study is required. The assessment finds the potential for significant impacts to certain aspects of biotic and hydrologic resources, soils, and water quality. For more information, see the county web page.

From the Fall 2009 issue of the Environmental News.