[KHTS] – While the House’s passage of the Soledad Canyon Settlement Act, also known as H.R. 5472, was a big win for Santa Clarita and others opposed to SCV mining, those in support of the move aren’t yet in the clear.

The next few days will be critical to the future of a bill to keep a massive sand and gravel mine out of the Santa Clarita Valley, officials said Friday.

Soledad Canyon mining area | Photo: SAFE Action for the Environment

While Santa Clarita officials are appreciative and optimistic for the efforts of Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, as well as Congressmen Buck McKeon and Brad Sherman, the bill still needs the support of all 100 senators, officials said Friday.

“It requires unanimous consent,” said Mike Murphy, intergovernmental relations officer for the city of Santa Clarita. “I think there’s a very strong possibility of it happening.”

The bill calls for the cancellation of two mining contracts that Cemex, a Mexico-based, international building materials company, owns on land just east of the city of Santa Clarita.

In exchange, the Bureau of Land Management would be called upon to sell about 10,000 acres in San Bernardino County, the value of which would be used to compensate Cemex for the value of their land.

While the bill had bicameral and bipartisan support, because it was brought to a vote from the suspension calendar, which is intended for bills considered noncontroversial, it must pass with a unanimous vote in the Senate.

While the House of Representatives has already adjourned for the session, but the Senate is still debating several pieces of legislation, including the appropriations bill recently passed by the House.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer

“My understanding is that (the vote) will be some time at the next few days,” Murphy added, which was a sentiment reiterated by representatives from Boxer’s office.

Boxer, who authored the Senate bill, is in the process of garnering the support before she brings the bill to the floor for a vote, because the bill only has one chance left, Murphy said

“Certainly, before (Boxer) takes the bill up, she wants to make sure there aren’t any unexpected surprises,” Murphy said. “You, in essence, get one shot at it.”

The city has been very encouraged by legislators’ efforts, and Cemex, for its part, expressed support for its partnership with Santa Clarita on Thursday.

“Cemex fully supports this legislation and is optimistic of its passage in the Senate,” said Sara Engdahl, director of communications for the mining company. “We will continue to keep the lines of communication open with the city of Santa Clarita as we move closer to a resolution.”

The city has spent more than $12 million, and enlisted the help of two lobbying firms, Jamison and Sullivan and Kadesh & Associates, in its long-term effort to fight the mine.

“I can not think of something more exciting than the passage of this bill,” Councilman Bob Kellar said Friday. “It’s been a battle that we’ve had for many years… to finally find this thing coming to a culmination — a win for Santa Clarita and for Cemex.”