Pacific Rock requests that a modified CUP be granted, and an amended Reclamation Plan be approved, to authorize the continued operation and expansion of the existing Pacific Rock surface mining facility for a 60-year period. (See Notice of Determination for additional detail.)
The proposed expanded mining facility involves the excavation and export of approximately 13.2 million tons (19.8 million cubic yards) of mined material. The reclamation plan maps, and cross sections depict the volume of material to be excavated and the proposed finished slope contours after each phase of the mining operations are completed. The ultimate configuration of the Final Reclaimed Surface (FRS) of the mine will include three large, graded pad areas. The finished grades of these pads will be at elevations of approximately 190-feet, 250-feet, and 300-feet. The FRS will include slopes of 1:1 (horizonal: vertical) slope ratio with a maximum slope height of approximately 750-feet along the northerly side of the mine. Detailed information on the configuration of the FRS, and on all other requirements for reclamation of the mined lands at the Pacific Rock Mine are included in the proposed amended Reclamation Plan (Exhibit 9). The proposed project to expand the mine includes the eventual removal of protected trees. Authorization for this tree removal is requested as part of the project and must comply with the County Tree Protection Regulations as described in Mitigation Measure 810-6.
Surface mining activities will continue to be conducted at the facility using explosives to lift and loosen exposed bedrock. This material will continue to be initially sorted into size classes by pushing the material over a steep slope with a front-end loader or a bulldozer. The heavier (larger) pieces of rock are collected from the base of the working slopes for sale as rip-rap or to be crushed for use as road base or other customer specified materials. Material will be further sorted by passing through vibrating scalp screens. Material that does not pass through the screens will be crushed and conveyed back to the screens for additional sorting. Materials will continue to be placed in stockpiles on the mining site and segregated by material type and grain size.
In addition to the production and export of mined materials, the facility will also import concrete, asphalt, and soil to the site to be processed and recycled. Mined materials will continue to be exported from the site to market using heavy haul trucks. Such trucks are also used to haul concrete, soil, and asphalt materials to and from the site. All project-related hauling truck traffic is subject to all applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code and Streets and Highways Code.
The authorized mining facility is subject to the operational limitations summarized as follows:
Facility Component or Activity To be authorized CUP LU10-0003
CUP Area: 204.4 acres
Mining (Excavation) Area and Facilities: 172.8 acres
Reclamation End Use: Open Space and Agriculture
Annual Production: 468,000 tons
Maximum Production (Export) Per Day: 1,500 tons
Surface Mining and Processing Methods: Blasting, sorting, processing (crushing) and stockpiling.
Structures and Equipment: Aggregate processing facilities, mobile equipment, bunkers, scale, scale house, storaqe bins, etc.
Soils Imports and Exports: A maximum of 100,000 cubic yards per year
Concrete and Asphalt Recycling: A maximum of 30,000 cubic yards per year
Day and Hours of Operation, Mining Excavation and Processing: Monday through Saturday, 7:00am to 4:00pm
Maximum Daily Haul Truck Traffic (combined trips for the hauling of aggregate, soil, concrete and asphalt): 120 one-way trips (60 truckloads) per operating day (no change from previous CUP).
Maximum material volume excavated and exported from the site under this permit and associated Approved Reclamation Plan: 29,700,000 tons (19,800,000 cubic yards)
Vehicle Parking Spaces: 10, including one ADA space
Overnight parking of material haul trucks and storage of mobile mining equipment: Mobile mining equipment appurtenant to the subject mining facility and hauling trucks are authorized to be stored overnight on the project site.
CUP term limit: 60-years, expiring on June 18, 2086.
The mined lands at the site will be reclaimed to an end use of open space and agriculture in accordance with the proposed amended Reclamation Plan.
This mining expansion authorized by this project description is anticipated to occur in phases by quadrants. Condition No. 32, Mine Expansion Phasing Plan, requires the development of a Mine Expansion Phasing Plan which identifies the geographic quadrants for expansion of the mined area within the CUP boundary. Prior to the issuance of a Zoning Clearance authorizing expansion and ground disturbing activities within an identified quadrant, the Permittee must submit to the Planning Division for review and approval a Permit Conditions of Approval/ Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (COAs/MMRP) Report demonstrating compliance with the applicable permit COAs/MMRP for the requested quadrant.
