Aggregate Mines

Re “Schools, Homes, Roads Fuel Demand for Aggregate” (Valley Perspective, Oct. 22). There are several aggregate mines along the Soledad Canyon corridor, just north of the Santa Clarita city limits. The Santa Clarita Valley currently has enough aggregate for concrete to supply projected building through the year 2046.

There simply is no shortage of aggregate. By saying there is, Southdown Corp. wants to override the serious environmental problems--especially this region’s air quality problems--which could be exacerbated by its mining operation. What is at issue is not the use of the land for mining, but this particular project, Transit Mixed Concrete, proposed by Southdown.

The project is too large with too many detrimental effects. It lies adjacent to the national forest and the Santa Clara River, and within a five-mile radius of more than 9,000 existing or proposed homes. Even with the mitigations imposed by the Bureau of Land Management in its record of decision, this project is simply inappropriate for the Santa Clarita Valley.

In his article for The Times, Southdown’s environmental affairs manager, Brian Mastin, says: “The site is separated from residential development, much farther from homes than most other mining operations in the county.”

To say that it is OK that the homes surrounding the proposed Transit Mixed Concrete site are farther away than homes adjacent to other county mining facilities and are therefore not affected is ridiculous. When winds blow dust and dirt through the canyons, when five-axle trucks are projected to be rolling down the roadways almost constantly, when blasting will occur on a regular basis, mining is simply not appropriate near homes, businesses and schools.

JO ANNE DARCY

Mayor,

Santa Clarita