The Curious Case of the State Mining Board

Claremont to Lose "Mineral Resource" Designation?

click image to enlarge

We received notice of a March 11 Meeting of the State Geology and Mining Board. (See the notice embedded here just below)

You may remember that mining of gravel in northeast Claremont was the cause celebre in the last city council election, and the state mining board even held a meeting at El Roble on the issue of the adequacy of Claremont's mining ordinance. Or whether Claremont had a mining ordinance. Or whether Claremont needed a mining ordinance. Or something.

Here is a clip of the portion of the meeting notice that appears to indicate intent on the part of the State Geology and Mining Board to "un-designate" some 1500 acres of land in and around northeast Claremont as "mineral resource lands".

As usual, we are not sure, because we are merely pajama-clad bloggers, but we think that this will remove these lands from State jurisdiction under SMARA and allow totally local control of the development (or non-development) of the property. We are sure the Claremont City Manager, highly-paid Jeff Parker, is on top of this. His phone number is (909) 399-5441.

It's a little unclear from the map provided with the meeting notice whether the 1560 acres comprise the area in brown or in light blue. Since it's "Furlough Friday" at the State offices, we are unable to get clarification.

Here's the notice in full. (click on the upper right to enlarge to full screen). You figure it out.

Is this some sort of reaction to the action of Zelda a few years ago? Readers may remember that when the aggregate-mining issue was hot, then-State Senator Sheila Kuehl (Zelda, on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", see picture, right) sponsored a bill that had the effect of pre-empting localities in many cases from controlling mining for gravel in their backyards. One of the major reasons for such policy is that for gravel, or aggregate, to be economical, it must be located close to the point of intended use.

Here is a link to a lengthy staff report from the Executive Director of the Mining Board describing the history and process of the whole "designation" issue. This 13-page document contains more than you'll ever want to know unless you are in the business.

The March 11th meeting will be in Palm Springs. We wonder what Vulcan Materials will say at that forum? Will they come all lawyered-up like they did to the Claremont Mining Board meeting? Will they assert some sort of "takings" issue? Will PVPA (owner of at least some of the land)? Stay tuned.