The Cupertino Courier

News

Quarries have one year to fix any problems

By HUGH BIGGAR

Landslides, air pollution, unsightly scars and more may result when quarries are not inspected with the regularity required by state law.

Santa Clara County has a year to improve its oversight of nine quarries, including Cupertino's Hanson Permanente quarry and the Stevens Creek quarry on Stevens Canyon Road, a state board ruled Sept. 14. The board also singled out both Cupertino operations and the Lexington Quarry in Los Gatos, for being out of compliance with state law.

"The board issued notices of deficiencies at these mines, and the county has 15 days to let them know," Don Drysdale, a spokesman for the state's Department of Conservation, said.

Alerted by neighbors of the Lexington Quarry in Los Gatos, the State Mining and Geology Board reviewed the county's overall regulation of nine quarries and found it to be out of compliance--particularly with annual inspections. In addition to inspecting quarry reclamation plans, the county also is in charge of land use and permitting decisions for quarries.

But the board found the county conducted no annual inspections between 2000 and 2003. The board also found a subsequent inspection in 2005 was inadequate.

The state had threatened to take over Santa Clara County's oversight of the quarries but at the Sept. 14 hearing gave the county a year to make corrections.

As a part of the review, the board found Hanson Permanente did not allocate enough funds for reclamation of mined land, ignored stability issues along the rim of a 1,000-foot pit in the hills overlooking Cupertino that could cause landslides and encroached on neighboring property. In the past, Hanson Permanente, which makes cement used in many Bay Area bridge and road projects, also created a ridgeline scar visible from the East Bay. Hanson Permanente has since replanted the scar--caused by dumped quarried rock--in an attempt to cover it. In 2004, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District also published a report listing the quarry as a leading source of stationary air pollution in Santa Clara County.

At the Stevens Creek quarry, compliance problems included land encroachment and inadequate replanting of mined lands.

Cupertino resident David Doyle, who lives near both quarries, said local concerns about their operations inspired him to attend the Sept. 14 hearings.

"I was concerned about the impact [of the quarries] on the neighborhood," Doyle said. "In the past there have been a lot of trucks generating noise and dust [covering yards and cars]."

"We haven't heard about the 15-day notice," said John Giovanola, community affairs manager for Hanson Permanente. "We have a long history here and think we are in compliance and we'll continue to operate as we have until we hear otherwise."

The 15-day notices could be the start of changes. During the next year, the State Mining and Geology Board plans to check on the county's progress on compliance. The board next expects a progress report on improvements in these areas in six months.