PLANNING COMMISSION BANS GRAVEL TRUCK TRAFFIC ON SCENIC HIGHWAY 33 FROM DIAMOND ROCK MINE

Move Protects Ojai Valley and Los Padres National Forest
From as Many as 138 Truck Trips Per Day

Concerns Remain Over Permanency of Ban
and Other Proposed Mines in the Cuyama Valley

Santa Maria, Calif. – Yesterday, a unanimous Santa Barbara County Planning Commission moved one step closer towards protecting the Ojai Valley, the Los Padres National Forest, and Scenic Highway 33 from an influx of as many as 138 gravel truck trips per day to and from the Diamond Rock Mine planned in the Cuyama Valley. The move comes in response to efforts by the Stop the Trucks Coalition, Los Padres ForestWatch, and hundreds of residents concerned about the health, safety, and environmental impacts of increased gravel truck traffic along this narrow, winding two-lane mountain road.

A truck emerges from one of three tunnels near Wheeler Gorge
in the Los Padres National Forest. Photo © LPFW, Inc.

A Powerful Victory for the Forest

During yesterday’s hearing the Commission voted 4-0 to approve the Diamond Rock Sand and Gravel Mine and Processing Facility, planned for the remote Cuyama Valley in Santa Barbara County near the Ventura County Line. Along with approving the mine, the Commission also approved Condition 34, which effectively prohibits trucks from Diamond Rock cutting through the heart of the Los Padres National Forest and the Ojai Valley.

When initially proposed in 2006, the mining company proposed to send as many as 138 daily truck trips to and from the mine along Scenic Highway 33 during peak production. The trucks would have cut through the heart of the Los Padres National Forest, rumbling by popular swimming holes, campgrounds, hiking trails, wilderness areas, and a ten-mile stretch of Sespe Creek, recommended for protection under the federal Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. Once in Ojai, the trucks would travel along hundreds of residences and several schools in this small valley whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism.

When added to existing truck traffic, this additional truck traffic would have resulted in one truck every four minutes during peak production, according to the Environmental Impact Report for the mine.

However, in approving Condition 34 to the mine’s permit yesterday, the Commission finally acknowledged these significant impacts. Condition 34 bans all truck traffic from the Diamond Rock mine, stating: “Truck traffic to and from the Diamond Rock project site shall be prohibited through Ojai” and the Los Padres National Forest. The condition also specifies that these trucks shall not be re-routed in other directions, essentially resulting in a 20% decrease in mining operations.

The route is designated as a California State Scenic Highway and a National Forest Scenic Byway, one of only four such highways in all of southern California. Highway 33 is a narrow, winding mountain road that takes travelers through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region.

ForestWatch is pleased that the County and the mining company finally recognized what we’ve been saying all along – that Scenic Highway 33 is not suitable as an industrial trucking route, a fact made all the more true by the collapse of an entire lane of Highway 33 into North Fork Matilija Creek this past winter.

The recent collapse of Highway 33 will take months, if not years, to repair.
One lane of highway remains open for through traffic.
Photo courtesy of Maureen and Dan Smith, Wheeler Hot Springs
 

But Our Work is Far From Over...

While the truck ban of Condition 34 is now in effect, the mine operator can apply to have it removed anytime in the future. ForestWatch and the Coalition will continue to demand that the ban remains permanent as the project winds its way through the County appeal process. If appealed, the project will be reviewed by the County Board of Supervisors later this summer. Residents in the Cuyama Valley will likely file an appeal of the Diamond Rock mine based on concerns with groundwater, noise, and quality of life issues in this remote area.

In addition to Diamond Rock, two existing sand and gravel mines also on the Cuyama River – the Ozena Sand & Gravel mine and the GPS River Rock Products mine – are seeking to dramatically expand their operations, as well as one new mine just downstream of the Diamond Rock facility. If approved, these mines could send hundreds of additional trucks through Ojai and the Los Padres National Forest. Hearings and environmental documents for these mines are scheduled to begin later this summer.