Planners okay Boron mine expansion for the next 40 years
BY BILL DEAVER
BAKERSFIELD - A slight adjustment in scheduling water trucks led to approval of a plan to expand open-pit mining operations at U.S. Borax in Boron, at last week's Kern County Planning Commission meeting.
After hearing testimony from Borax engineers and three Cherryhill Drive residents, Commissioner Doug Zimmerman, who said he has worked as a contractor at the plant, said "My concern is dust."
His concern echoed those of the Cherryhill residents, whose primary complaint seemed to be over dust generated by haul trucks dumping overburden on a huge pile north of their homes.
Residents Robert Miller, Lynne Petrie, and Robert Tubb complained about dust from what Mrs. Petrie said was a 350-foot mountain of dirt at the end of her street.
Water trucks
Commissioner Chris Babcock of Mojave agreed with Zimmerman that perhaps the frequency of water truck operations could be increased from the current schedule of four per shift in summer and two per shift in winter. The differential is based on the rate of evaporation, according to Mary Jane Wilson of WZI Consulting, the firm preparing environmental documents for the project.
Wilson said the winter schedule could create problems with the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, which regulates the amount of water the company can use.
Spraying too much water on mine roads in winter can make them "sloppy," creating other problems, Wilson explained.
After taking a break to discuss the issue with Borax officials, Wilson said the company agreed to run a minimum of six in summer and four in winter. The winter schedule runs from October 15 to March 15.
Wilson said Borax environmental technicians monitor dust "opacity" at the mine daily. The company is not allowed to exceed 20-percent opacity, she said.
Dust from the overburden piles should be reduced as they are revegetated. Once trucks stop dumping material, the soil should crust over, Wilson said.
After the compromise was announced, Zimmerman moved to approve the conditional use permit application, with Babcock seconding the motion. The proposal now goes to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Delayed by opponents
The issue first came before the commission in October, but was delayed to give county attorneys and planning staff time to respond to a lengthy letter presented to the commission at that meeting by Caroline Farrell, an attorney with the Center on Race and Poverty. Farrell said she was representing the "Healthy Lungs Association," comprised of some Cherryhill Drive residents.
County staff presented a lengthy response to Farrell's letter at last week's meeting. Farrell said she needed more time to study the letter and might respond to it when county supervisors consider the proposal.
Mine expansion
Borax is proposing to expand the size of the mine to allow mining for the final 40 years of its existence. The company's application includes combining several existing conditional use permits into one, which Borax environmental manager said would make it easier for the county to monitor the company's activities.
Wagner listed a number of honors Borax has earned in recent years for safety and environmental management. He said the company employs 800 people, pays $4.3 million in taxes, spends $1.5 million annually with local suppliers, and donates over $300,000 each year to local community.
In addition, the company spends some $10 million each year on safety and the environment.
Giving back
Nancy LaMoureaux, a 30-year veteran of Borax and the plant's director of community programs, described how that $300,000 is spent in Boron and the region.
Noting that someone at the last meeting suggested that Borax should "give back to the community," LaMoureaux said "Borax has been giving back to the community for 75 years."
Following an extensive community needs assessment that developed a list of issues the community wants addressed, LaMoureaux said 75-percent of the company's donations are now targeted at meeting those needs.
She said the company is working with students at Victor Valley College who are developing new strains of plants that can be used in the company's revegetation efforts.
LaMoureaux also briefed planning commissioners on the foundation created to distribute admission fees collected at the company's visitor center to community groups.
In addition to LaMoureaux, Ray Panter, president and business agent
for the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union, which represents
650 of the company's 800 employees, said "We stand in support" of the mine
expansion proposal. Panter said he has lived in the area for 57 years and
worked for Borax for 37 years.
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