But a portion of one side has seen mining
activity, which has left some who object to the swap feeling Vulcan
isn't being completely accurate.
Only 58.5 acres of the east 80 acres on the currently
approved site remain classified as undisturbed, according to
environmental documents on the project.
"It is absolutely misleading," said Richard Deem, one of
the leaders of Save Our Canyon, a group opposed to the mining project.
"Our opinion is the environmental impact report is highly flawed, just
on that basis only. There are other things wrong with it, too, but,
obviously, not being an equal swap makes all the assumptions
incorrect."
Save Our Canyon believes 16 acres were completely mined and about five more acres just disturbed.
Vulcan Spokesman Todd Priest disagreed, saying that part of the land was "previously disturbed" but none was mined.
"While
one might classify surface disturbance as mining activity, clearly all
80 acres on the east side are yet to be mined and contain significant
deposits of aggregate material," Priest said. "We have never mislead
anyone in regards to the 80-acre exchange."
Vulcan Materials Co. has a permit to mine 190 acres near
Fish Canyon. The company wants to exchange 80 acres of land on its
eastern property line for the ability to mine 80 acres near its western
property line.
The 270-acre Vulcan property is in Azusa but rests along
the Duarte border. For Vulcan to move forward, Azusa officials would
have to approve Vulcan's plan to mine the undisturbed western 80 acres.
If the operation moves to the west, the total annual amount
mined from Vulcan's land would decrease 10 million tons to 6 million
tons.
The plan goes to the Planning Commission at 7 p.m.
Wednesday. After the hearing, the commission could vote whether to
recommend the plan to the City Council.
In an environmental report commissioned by the city, the
only significant impact was the view, or aesthetics, for some Duarte
residents.
Officials in Duarte question whether an equal exchange is being offered.
"In
the environmental report, it really sells the project as a swap," said
Duarte Deputy City Manager Karen Herrera. "We don't see it as an even
swap. That is why we view it more as an expansion versus a swap."
Priest said Vulcan has never tried to hide that some of the eastern land had been disturbed.
"While
the area is quantified in acres, mining is done vertically so that
while there may be top level disturbance, the aggregate remains in
place," Priest said.
The disturbance is still cause for concern due to the
environmental and aesthetic impacts of the proposed mining swap,
Herrera said.
"Only about 60 acres will be saved from disturbance," with
the new plan, Herrera said. "On the west, a whole new 80 acres is
distributed. That is a real net increase of disturbed land by 20
acres."