HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-09-10 - RESOLUTIONS - SOLEDAD CYN MINE ASSIST (2)RESOLUTION NO. 02-146 .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE OF CONGRESSMAN HOWARD "BUCK" MC KEON
IN PURSUING A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE REMEDY TO
AMELIORATE THE SOLEDAD CANYON MINE
PROPOSED BY CEMEX, INC.
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the United States
Department of the Interior has issued two ten-year contracts to CEMEX, Inc., to mine, in
exchange for royalties, certain sand and gravel resources owned by the federal government
in the Soledad Canyon area in the eastern Santa Clarita Valley in the vicinity of the City of
Santa Clarita; and,
WHEREAS, the issuance and enforceability of these contracts are conditional
pending federal and state environmental review as well as on CEMEX's ability to obtain a
variety of state and local permits as listed in the August 1, 2000, Record of Decision issued
by the BLM for the Soledad Canyon mining project; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has participated in the federal and state
environmental review of the Soledad Canyon mining project and has evaluated and
responded to the environmental documentation provided by the BLM and the County of Los
Angeles and has prepared numerous comments, reports, studies and similar analyses of the
project's impacts to the City and the communities of the Santa Clarita Valley; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of this extensive participation the City has determined that
the Soledad Canyon mining project as proposed shall cause significant negative impacts to
the environment in and around the project's vicinity which can not be mitigated, including
severe negative impacts to local air quality, water resources, biological resources, local and
regional transportation corridors, aesthetic viewsheds, and numerous other resources of
importance to the community; and,
WHEREAS, the loss of these resources represents an immediate, irreversible, and
unacceptable loss to the City and the communities of the Santa Clarita Valley and shall
severely impact the health, welfare, and safety of the population as well as the quality of
life for which the Santa Clarita Valley is known; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council in full knowledge of the above has voted unanimously
to oppose the Soledad Canyon mining project as it is currently proposed by CEMEX; and,
WHEREAS, Congressman Howard "Buck° McKeon, the Agua Dulce and Acton Town
Councils, and many other representatives and members of the Santa Clarita Valley
community, both in and out of the City, have joined the City Council in this opposition; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has directed staff to effect a multidisciplinary strategy
to eliminate the negative impacts of the project while providing for a reasonable
Resolution No. 02-146
Page 2
accommodation of the proposed mining land use which has historically occurred in the
Soledad Canyon area; and,
WHEREAS, this multidisciplinary strategy includes technical, political, legal,
community outreach, and legislative components, including legislative efforts on the local,
state, and federal levels; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of the success of these combined efforts the City Council has
determined at this time that, in addition to the tremendous support and assistance already
rendered by Congressman McKeon and his staff to this community, his additional
assistance is deemed necessary and prudent to initiate and effect a legislative remedy.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita does hereby
request legislative assistance from Congressman McKeon to bring the disparate parties
together to effect a legislative remedy at the federal level that is reasonable, prudent, and
equitable to all stakeholders, and which preserves the quality of life for which communities
of the Santa Clarita Valley are so well known.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council directs a letter be sent to
Congressman McKeon thanking the Congressman and his staff for the support and effort
undertaken thus far on the community's behalf, and forwarding this request.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 10`h day of September, 2002.
ATTEST:
_4 a .-
CITY CLERK
Resolution No. 02-146
Page 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa
Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 10' day of September, 2002, by the
following:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Smyth, Waste, McLean, Kellar, Ferry
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None'
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
CITY CLERK
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