REDWOOD NEEDLES

Presented by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Newsletter, The REDWOOD NEEDLES

Return to

Sierra Club appeals gravel mining approval

The Sonoma Group has joined Trout Unlimited and other environmental groups in appealing the Sonoma County Planning Commission's approval of Shamrock Materials' in-stream gravel mining project on the Russian River. The appeal lists the inadequacies of the initial study (it does not use the most up-to-date information available, nor does it "consider potential impact of upstream-end gravel bar mining on water quality, gravel aquifer infiltration and municipal wells.") The appeal explains why a complete environmental impact report is needed. It also details violations to the 1994 Sonoma County Aggregate Resource Management (ARM) plan; a possible conflict of interest during approval of the application; and that mitigation fees do not provide adequate compensation for the impacts of the project (placing an unreasonable burden on county residents). Furthermore, the "National Marine Fisheries Service is currently conducting studies on the detrimental affects of in-stream gravel mining on threatened species habitat. In-stream mining permits should be delayed until the studies are concluded and published."

Return to