HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-10 - RESOLUTIONS - MEGA MINING OPPOSITION (2)RESOLUTION NO. 06-95
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING MEGA -MINING AND ITS VITAL
IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita, located in north Los Angeles County, is the 22nd
largest city of the 478 incorporated cities in California, part of the Santa Clarita Valley of over
250,000 residents, and one of the fastest growing first choice communities for raising families;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita is very pro-business, regularly recognized as one of
the most business -friendly cities in the area, recognizes the significance of aggregate and
supports mining at historical levels (300,000 tons); and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interiors Bureau of Land Management has
issued two ten-year consecutive mineral estate leases to CEMEX for the purpose of mining sand
and gravel aggregate, against the strong opposition of the residents in the Santa Clarita Valley on
surface estate owned by the City of Santa Clarita; and
WHEREAS, sand and gravel mining has historically taken place in the Santa Clarita
Valley and specifically at the proposed CEMEX project site at historical mining levels,
approximately less than 5 percent of the current mega -mining proposal; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine will increase mining levels for the Santa Clarita
area by 1,600% or enough sand and gravel to fill the Rose Bowl 127 times; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -nine will add up to 1,164 big truck trips everyday to the
Los Angeles area freeway system; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine operation consisting of mining, crushing and
processing activities will operate 17 hours a day, 6 days per week; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine will exceed the maximum risk allowed by the Air
Quality Management District (AQMD) Toxic Rules for new sources by 250%; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine concrete batch plant operations and trucking
activities will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine operation calls for blasting twice a week for the
first 10 years, and then double that for the next 10 years; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine water demands will frequently dewater the Santa
Clara River at the project site, with potentially enormous impacts to fish, wildlife, and plants;
including "take" (killing) of the Fully Protected Unarmored Threespine Stickleback fish; and
WHEREAS, the CEMEX mega -mine will greatly reduce the quality of life residents;
enjoy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has embarked upon an unprecedented outreach
effort to make clear that decisions made by the federal government, with negative impacts to
residents and community, are neither tolerable nor supportable; and
WHEREAS, a Citizens' Coalition of 8,000 members has been formed sending a loud and
clear message that circumvention of local government is not pleasing, and the CEMEX
mega -mine is not welcomed; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita is concerned that if CEMEX and the federal
government are successful in its efforts to work around the City of Santa Clarita, local
circumvention precedent will be set, allowing for other federal agencies and multinational
corporations to do the same to other cities ; and
WHEREAS, the federal government is whittling away local control.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita does hereby resolve as
follows:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Clarita is greatly concerned that the federal and state
governmental agencies suppose that evading local control is acceptable; and
SECTION 2. Albeit the City of Santa Clarita was shut out of the process by the federal
government, after many tries to influence a decision that is gong to have irreversible impact on
our community, the City, our residents and neighboring communities continue to be in opposition
of mega -mining and will undoubtedly maintain the fight, and
SECTION 3. The CEMEX mega -mine project impacts are detrimental to the Santa
Clarita Valley and community residents' quality of life; and
SECTION 4. The opposition of the CEMEX mega -mine is undeniably supported by the
citizens of the impacted communities - the "Citizens' Coalition; and
SECTION 5. The CEMEX mega -mine and circumventing local government shall
strongly be opposed by the City of Santa Clarita; and
SECTION 6. Copies of this resolution shall be made available to all California cities,
and all other applicable entities.
SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of October, 2006.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK '
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLAR]TA )
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 10th day of October, 2006, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Ferry, Smyth, McLean, Kellar, Weste
NOES: COUNCII.MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
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V
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
CERTIFICATION OF
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true
and correct copy of the original Resolution No. 06-95, adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Clarita, California on October 10, 2006, which is now on file in my offico.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this ^ day of
20_.
Sharon L. Dawson, CMC
City Clerk
By
Susan Coffman
Deputy City Clerk