This just in, from Save the Scenic Santa Ritas.
When I recently watched Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias on Arizona Illustrated, I thought the hope of preventing cement mining in Davidson Canyon was dead. But perhaps not … most out there familar with Board of Supervisors meetings know that the best way to make a difference is to pack the hearing room:
Note that while this is not directly about the Rosemont Mine, it could cumulatively affect the area. As you may have heard, danger is near for this area from California Portland Cement’s proposed Quarry just south of the County owned Bar V Ranch. On July 29, 2008, Pima County issued Cal Portland a Floodplain Use Permit. The Empire Fagan Coalition would like to ask for your support in contacting the Pima County Board of Supervisors to ask them to revoke this prematurely issued Floodplain Use Permit, especially now that Davidson Canyon has just been granted a designation as an Arizona Outstanding Water. If this quarry mine is approved and built, it could make it easier for the Rosemont Mine to come in as well. Please support the Empire Fagan Coalition by writing a letter AND attending the Board of Supervisors meeting next Tuesday.
There is another opinion out there evidently: Pima County can still fight for Davidson Canyon. The county approved the floodplain use permit for AZ/Cal Portland Cement, but the company failed to request the required 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Evidently, this is needed needed before a flood permit can be issued.
Empire Fagan folks hope people come out to support them at the Pima County Board of Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m. Supervisor Ray Carroll is placing on the agenda the revocation of Pima County’s flood control permit (issued without Board of Supervisors’ approval). The board meets in the hearing room at the Pima County Administration Building, 130 W. Congress St., 1st Floor.
To see the Arizona Illustrated interview with Richard Elias, click on “more.”
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2008.
Thank you to Ms. Herreras for her post and to SSSR for mailing her the information. We appreciate your help in sending letters to the Board about this issue. Please visit our site and the http://www.empirefagan.org wesbite for more information.
Talking points for a letter/with Supervisor Contact Information:
http://azhighway83.com/12.html
Title 16 FLOODPLAIN AND EROSION HAZARD MANAGEMENT
16.20.020 Permit–Information requirements.
D. The Chief Engineer shall review the proposed development to assure that all necessary permits have been requested from those governmental agencies from which approval is required by federal or state law including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1134. (Ord. 2005 FC-2 § 2 (part), 2005; Ord. 1999 FC-1 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 1988 FC-2 Art. 7 (C), 1988)
Title 16 FLOODPLAIN AND EROSION HAZARD MANAGEMENT
16.08.170 Development.
“Development” means any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, fencing, excavating or drilling or storage of equipment or materials. (Ord. 2005 FC-2 § 2 (part), 2005; Ord. 1999 FC-1 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 1988 FC-2 Art. 4 (part), 1988)
Chairman Elias picked his nose over this issue? Maybe he should have put it before the public and the Board for a vote, rather than letting the County Administrator (Emperor) issue this in the dark without the light of public disclosure. And he wants to replace Raul Grijalva if he moves to Interior? If Raul was still Supervisor he would have been the first person to stop this permit.
If the commentator above has his/her facts right, (and the web site listed)it looks like Pima County jumped the gun — they should have waited for a 404 permit from the feds before doing anything — based on their own county policy. What was the rush? And who benefits in the county for doing this? Something smells, and it’s more than just the smell of destruction of our prime riparian habitat.
Mari is right — the only time that this board does anything right (i.e. supports Ray Carroll) is when the public goes down there and forces them to do the right thing. Unfortunately, the Board only has their meetings on Tuesday during working hours when most of us can’t make it down there. But people should certainly write and call the board if they give a damn about Davidson Canyon and our watershed at Cienega Creek.
Thank you Mari for posting this issue. I hope it does some good.