header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 20
1954 - C-46 cargo plane crashes at Saugus Drunk Farm; Civil Air Patrol chaplains parachute to safety [story]
chaplains


Commentary by Andrew G. Fried
| Sunday, Feb 1, 2015
Andrew G. Fried

Andrew G. Fried

It would be understandable for anyone who has fought the long, hard fight to keep a massive sand and gravel mine out of Soledad Canyon to reflect upon the last-minute developments of the congressional session that ended just before the holidays, and come to a sobering conclusion: The battle is lost.

Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, with his final legislative attempt to cancel the Cemex mining contracts with the Bureau of Land Management, didn’t get the job done in time. His last Cemex bill passed the House, but the Senate version of the bill was dead on arrival as one New Mexico senator, taking advantage of the dwindling congressional schedule, killed it by putting a hold on it.

In the wake of the bill’s failure, Cemex announced it has waited as long as it can. The company released a statement that said in part: “Given these considerations and the uncertain political climate at this time, Cemex will continue to pursue implementation of the Soledad Canyon project with the goal of bringing the project on-line, while also exploring with the city mutually agreeable solutions.”

The mining company has been sitting on these contracts for seven years while the city of Santa Clarita has pursued a legislative solution that would be mutually agreeable. While our nonprofit organization, Safe Action for the Environment Inc., strongly opposes the Cemex mine, we do appreciate the company’s patience in trying to arrive at a legislative solution.

So that’s it, right?

Well, maybe not. While Cemex has said it will now resume pursuing development of the mine in 2015, opportunity still remains with the new Congress — and with the SCV’s newly elected representative, Steve Knight — to pursue passage of the legislation early in the 2015 congressional session.

McKeon’s bill was a companion bill to legislation authored by Sen. Barbara Boxer and supported by Sen. Dianne Feinstein. With support from both members of the California Senate delegation, and Knight pledging to take up the cause on the House side, there still remains a chance that a legislative solution can save the day in 2015.

Our organization, Safe Action for the Environment Inc., is refusing to give up hope. We’re continuing our outreach to congressional leaders, including Martin Heinrich, the New Mexico senator who stood in the way of the bill as the clock ticked down the last minutes of the 2014 session.

SAFE has been involved in this issue since 1999, and we believe the Soledad Canyon Settlement Act reflects a fair-minded approach to a complex situation that has evolved over two decades. By directing the BLM to cancel Cemex’s sand and gravel mining leases in Soledad Canyon and withdrawing the site from future mining, the bill would address the multiple issues of area residents who have long been concerned that the mine would adversely impact their overall quality of life.

Boxer’s bill would bring consistency to federal policy on the Soledad Canyon-Upper Santa Clara River area, a crucial wildlife corridor that has been identified by the National Park Service as having significant ecological resources. Studies, plans and policies put forth by the BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service reflect unfavorably on placing a massive gravel mine in an ecologically sensitive area. SAFE concurs; Soledad Canyon is an inappropriate location for a project of this magnitude.

SAFE, in collaboration with the city of Santa Clarita, the state of California and an unprecedented coalition of businesses, educational bodies, political jurisdictions and governmental entities, environmental groups, labor organizations, media groups and area residents, support Boxer’s legislation as a creative, balanced and fair resolution of this issue.

Based on this collaborative effort, we are asking lawmakers to note the following facts:

1. A 56-million-ton sand and gravel mine, being promulgated by the BLM, is incompatible with President Obama’s recently designated San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. One edge of the National Monument property directly abuts the proposed mining site.

2. Surface mining on the site creates a bifurcated estate, with the city of Santa Clarita owning the surface rights and the BLM administering the federally owned mining rights. Once the mining contracts are cancelled through the legislative process, the city is prepared to convey, at no cost, the surface rights to approximately 490 acres of the property, which will provide a gateway to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

3. Three federal studies show that the Upper Santa Clara River area contains nationally significant ecological natural resources.

4. The San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study identifies the importance of the Santa Clara River, the last natural river in Southern California and the source of groundwater for 1 million Southern California residents.

5. For years, a coalition of local environmental organizations has been working to re-establish the wildlife corridor between the northern and southern sections of the National Forest.

6. The site is within the aforementioned wildlife corridor. Various studies have indicated large-scale sand and gravel mining, with its significant truck traffic and 24-hour operations including blasting, are incompatible with habitat preservation efforts.

7. The BLM’s study, titled the South Coast Resource Management Plan, specifically identifies the Upper Santa Clara River area as appropriate for designation as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

8. California Natural Resources Sec. John Laird has expressed support for Boxer’s legislation.

Residents of the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys are extremely concerned that the mine will adversely impact air quality, human health and animal husbandry, traffic, and their overall quality of life.

Therefore, SAFE remains a strong supporter of Boxer’s legislation, and we pledge to continue advocating in favor of the senator’s effort to allow this long-standing issue to finally be positively resolved.

It’s not over.

 

Andrew Fried is president of Safe Action for the Environment Inc. To find more information regarding SAFE and efforts to save Soledad Canyon, visit www.Safe4Environment.org.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

10 Comments

  1. Standing with you…!

  2. Andrew says:

    I appreciate your efforts to pass legislation to close the mine but I am confused how this property could be a “gateway” to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. In order to access the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, people would have to cross Soledad Canyon Rd , a railroad , santa clara river , and then cross another active mining site on the south side , before reaching the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

    • SCVNews.com says:

      The property abuts the monument. Entry is off of Lang Station Road. The City Council has already voted to convey it to the federal government for the monument’s Visitors Center, and the Forest Service and NPS want it for that. Only hurdle is BLM. The various departments within the federal government are not in agreement with each other.

      • Eric Walser says:

        News break: after 20 years “working” on the issue, the location of the mine is apparently still unknown to the local news makers. It doesn’t touch the so-called “monument” and is totally inaccessible. It’s not a gateway to anything.

        Isn’t there a law against pushing misinformation in an attempt to influence a debate about important public policies? If not, perhaps you’ve heard of a concept called journalistic integrity?

        • SCVNews.com says:

          Speaking of misinformation, the city of Santa Clarita’s Cemex property touches the monument and federal agencies (other than BLM) have expressed interest in using it as a gateway.

  3. jimvs says:

    Sure. This whole deal has been done from the beginning. Buck kept shucking and jiving, but the fact is that without someone with real Balzac in charge, this has always been a deal that was the SCV’s to lose.

    There has been historic mining in the same area; there isn’t a big enough “groundswell” of public reaction against it; and the Republican House and now Senate isn’t about to bite the hand that feeds them (big corporations).

    I’ve never heard of SAFE; might be my mistake. If so, well then too bad. You should have been out there a long time ago, and made your efforts clear. But, mostly I suspect it’s because they haven’t a big enough stake in this fight to be important. If they are big boys, they certainly don’t have the majority of our SCV residents lined up to file complaints against the mine and posting letters in favor of a settlement with Cemex, an international (de Mexico) company with large pockets to influence our dear, honest American legislators.

    OH, if only Cemex would complain about the negative impacts of the oncoming Bullet Train bulldozing it’s way through the SCV!

    Then maybe we’d have some front page discussions that would get the local yokels to engage with the issue.

    • SCVNews.com says:

      You must be a new reader. Welcome! SAFE is the group that has done all of the work for the past 15 or so years to mobilize the city and others to work toward a solution to the threat of mega-mining in Soledad Canyon.

  4. Sharon says:

    Straight up questions: Do you have fact checkers? Can you read a map?

    The Cemex mine site is not in the vicinity of Lang Station Rd. and it does not abut the monument. Readers can and should easily check these basic facts. The misinformation that surrounds this project is unbelievable!

    • jimvs says:

      Well, this is as important as the people want it to be. Confusion, obfuscation, and a lack of concern as to how it will affect them. Local mining has always been based on the dollar value of the mineral wealth that can be made.
      The Cemex plan is to strip the mountains and valleys of the available conglomerate and to crush/grind it to meet the needs of the paving contractors.
      In other words, paving the (LA County) valleys is more important than anything else.

      If that is what you want, then jump in on the side of Cemex.
      If you want anything else, then speak to, write to, and harass your elected representatives into voting against anything that allows Cemex to fulfill their corporate needs.

      If not, then just get ready to adjust to the idea of having the 14 Fwy be a dedicated highway for the Cemex product pipeline.

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Thursday, Sep 19, 2024
As my wife, Virginia, and I stroll through our magnificent city, we admire the beautiful paseos and the expansive open spaces, but what really catches our eye, is the diverse works of art at every turn.
Friday, Sep 13, 2024
As a father of three, I understand firsthand the importance of guiding our children through open communication and keeping them engaged in extracurricular activities and sports to foster their growth.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024
You may have noticed that things look a little different around our city. Maybe you noticed the motion sensor lights at our parks, or the solar panels being installed in city parking lots.
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024
California State  Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) is urging residents to prepare an emergency evacuation plan as the Line Fire, Bridge Fire and several other wildfires continue to pose a serious threat to High Desert and foothill communities.
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024
As we approach the November 2024 elections, the importance of informed voting cannot be overstated. The choices we make at the ballot box will shape the future of our city, state and nation. Yet, in an era where soundbites often substitute for substantive discussion, how can voters truly grasp the complexities of the issues at hand?
Friday, Sep 6, 2024
As scorching triple-digit temperatures engulf Los Angeles County throughout the weekend and excessive heat warnings have been issued for many communities in Los Angeles County’s Fifth District, I urge residents to do their part to lessen the threat of wildfires.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1954 - C-46 cargo plane crashes at Saugus Drunk Farm; Civil Air Patrol chaplains parachute to safety [story]
chaplains
The College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team has received a $300,000 grant from NASA’s Mentoring and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success program.
COC Receives $300,000 NASA Grant to Expand Student Access to STEM Fields
Bring along a furry friend to the Santa Clarita Child & Family Center's Purple Walk Domestic Violence Awareness 5K on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 8-11 a.m. at the Center’s main facility 21545 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Oct. 5: 5K Purple Walk Dogs Against Domestic Violence
Written and directed by Braddon Mendelson, produced by Heather Mendelson, and co-produced by Olive Branch Theatricals and Noisivision Studios, "Provenance" will take stage at the The MAIN, 24266 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91321, Friday through Sunday, Sept. 27-29.
Sept. 27-29: Braddon Mendelson to Present ‘Provenance’ at The MAIN
The Master's women's volleyball team opened Great Southwest Athletic Conference play on the road in Prescott, Ariz. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, defeating the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles in straight sets 28-26, 25-22, 25-18.
TMU Women’s Volleyball Opens Conference Play with Road Win
College of the Canyons freshman Sahya Kitabatake shot a two-under-par round of 70 to tie for medalist honors while helping the Cougars place fourth at the Western State Conference tournament at Sterling Hills Golf Club in Camarillo on Monday, Sept. 16.
Kitabatake Medals, Canyons Women Take Fourth at Sterling Hills Golf Club
One of the city of Santa Clarita community’s most cherished parks, David March Park is set to expand, Thursday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m., 28310 North Via Joyce Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Sept. 26: Community Invited to David March Park Expansion Groundbreaking
SRD Straightening Reigns, a therapeutic organization offering equine assisted psychotherapy, has been awarded $278,870 from the California State budget to improve mental health services.
California Awards $278,870 in Funding to SRD Straightening Reins
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees appointed Carlos Guerrero to fill the board seat in Area 5, effective immediately, at its special Wednesday, Sept. 18 meeting.
COC Board of Trustees Appoints Carlos Guerrero to Area 5 Seat
California Institute of the Arts alums Alyssa Dressman Lehner and Clara Plestis captured Emmy Awards at the 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Two Calartians Win 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Valencia High School's Choir will hold a fall concert, "Broadway, Movies & Media" at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. at the Saugus High School Theatre, 21900 Centurion Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Sept. 26-27: Valencia High Choir Presents Fall Concert ‘Broadway, Movies & Media’
As my wife, Virginia, and I stroll through our magnificent city, we admire the beautiful paseos and the expansive open spaces, but what really catches our eye, is the diverse works of art at every turn.
Bill Miranda | Santa Clarita Arts, a Journey Through Creativity
The California Department of Public Health is encouraging all Californians to get vaccinated this season to protect themselves and loved ones from respiratory viruses.
CDPH: Stay Up to Date on Vaccines
The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library in collaboration with Santa Clarita Valley Libraries will have a silent Book Auction beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, through 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7.
Sept. 30: Public Libraries to Host Silent Book Auctions
1863 - Gen. Edward F. Beale loans money to A.A. Hudson and Oliver P. Robbins to erect toll house in Newhall Pass [story]
toll house
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
Joint Assistance Centers Open for Residents Impacted by Bridge, Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
LASD Announces New Policy on Law Enforcement Gangs
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
SCVEDC Offers Virtual Business Tours of the Santa Clarita Valley
SCVNews.com