Planning Commission Meeting - January 6, 2009 IMMC1

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Topic: Planning Commission Meeting - January 6, 2009 IMMC1

Barb
Administrator

posted 07-28-2009 09:21 AM

Reported by: Tricia N. Kelly, CSR #3604
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
CITY OF GRASS VALLEY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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25 waiting to be loaded or being loaded, and I didn't see any
idle for long periods of time while they're staging or
tractor-trailer operators typically let their vehicles
Also, another part is -- you know, my experience,
the impact that the haul trucks have on air quality.
So I think this is grossly underestimated, about
destinations within a five to six hundred mile radius.
It is anticipated that ceramic products will be shipped to
truck emissions. Yet elsewhere in the document it says:
So they're looking at one mile for the haul
to Highway 49.
the project site, which is along Idaho-Maryland Road out
emissions from haul trucks as they travel in the area near
It says: However, the model only looks at
are based on a trip distance of one mile.
emissions, on that section, it says the daily emissions
on air quality. So that's one point. Also, on haul truck
see any mention of impact of the mine employees' vehicles
-- looking at the air quality section, I didn't
Sunrise Lane in Grass Valley.
MIKE SHEA: Oh, I'm sorry. Mike Shea, 11818
address, please.
THE CHAIRMAN: Would you state your name and
MIKE SHEA: On the Draft EIR --
--oOo--
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 once the mining companies had left, left it as a ghost
music and arts, and those are all things that had happened
been revitalized with high tech companies and culture and
the environment, the great schools. The community has
(sic) I think many people live here for, for the beauty,
We moved up to this area primarily for the areas
mother.
five years ago. I have two young daughters. I'm a
on Park Avenue in Nevada City. And I moved up here about
ELISA PARKER: My name is Elisa Parker. I live
--oOo--
thank you.
it's going to. And that's really all I have to say. So
don't think it's going to work as smooth as the EIR claims
trying to enter that roundabout and, you know, I just
will. Those trucks are going to block visibility for cars
trailers coming through there, because I don't think it
whether it indeed would mitigate all these big tractorroundabout
is fully functional, let's take a look at
think that this ought to be looked at. Now, when the
trips, and it just doesn't seem to make sense to me. So I
the roundabout is going to mitigate all of these truck
And on traffic, you know, they're saying that
So again, I think that needs to be taken a look at.
mention in the air quality section on the idling times.
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 been spending time creating sustainable, green, healthy
money that we have put into this process we could have
incorporate smart growth? All this energy and time and
past to go towards the future or are we going to
So, you know, are we going to look towards the
those things that we want to bring back as well?
was also founded on Chinese slavery and prostitution. Are
built upon gold mining, but, as my friend also said, it
the history that we have. We have -- this community was
empathize with them because, of course, we need to value
Many of the sentimentalists here -- and I
20 and on Highway 174, what will your legacy be?
have an accident as we often do on Highway 49, on Highway
something happen, should there be an error, should a truck
for human error, what will your legacy be? Should
knowing that there are toxic chemicals like cyanide left
And the idea of for my kids to be on the road
Nevada City being on the road.
imagine what that would be like. That's almost all of
Report, having 1,800 trucks on the road? I can't even
What will your legacy be? Per the Environmental Impact
to be as a planning commissioner here in Grass Valley.
And my question is what do you want your legacy
personal for all of us.
town. It's a personal issue for me, and I think it's
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 course, well, they say they're going to clean up the
I heard comments at the last meeting that, of
mine abandoned the area and did not clean it up?
they can't drink their water. Could it be because a gold
children at Grizzly Hills School in North San Juan why
company that has not done this before? We could ask the
mined before. How can I put my trust and faith in a
corporate corruption. Emgold is a company that has not
generation, there is no corporate loyalty. I've only seen
of corporate loyalty from generations prior. My
understand for the sentimentalists that there is a sense
You know, I don't know about you, but I
be?
and create a new legacy? What do you want your legacy to
sustainable jobs and be the pioneers that we were built on
into this or do we want to spend time creating healthy,
decide. Are we going to put more time, energy and money
So you have the power. You have the power to
and energy into better jobs.
at that, we could have certainly had -- put all that time
information on there for you. And, you know, just looking
look at the impacts of mining, there's all this
fantastic new organization that's been collected (sic) to
over 12 years. If you look at the reports on CLEAN, the
jobs. This is basically creating about 100 permanent jobs
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 explosives every day being used as approximate usage on
from wherever they're going. And then 4,000 pounds of
of trucks. That's basically a string of trucks in a loop
how that's going to be taken care of because that's a lot
going to affect traffic and what route they will take and
per minute 24 hours a day. Just wondering how that's
18. That's over 50 trucks an hour. That's basically one
that the trips -- I had heard 1,250, I heard tonight 14,
going to go and how that will be taken care of. I presume
removed from the mine, and I was wondering where those are
approximately eight million pounds of materials will be
Just a couple of questions. It says that
in Grass Valley, California.
RICH BLAIR: I'm Rich Blair, 13041 Wood Rose Way
--oOo--
and we can stop it right now. Thank you.
so much for your time, and I think this will be stopped
for you, and again, what will your legacy be? Thank you
sustainable jobs. It's personal for me and it's personal
can put more energy and time into smarter, healthier, more
I know that we can do better. I know that we
What will your legacy be?
do that when I have not seen any of that happen prior?
trust and faith do I have to believe that they're going to
water, they say they're going to clean up this area. What
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 I understand that the people who prepared the
area and in the over 150 years that it has been inhabited.
ill effects from them in the 150-mile long Mother Lode
child or animal has ever gotten sick, died or suffered any
Park have said about these and other elements, no adult,
Protection Agency, other federal agencies and the Empire
and attack people, regardless of what the Environmental
other mysterious heavy metals that leap out of the ground
The words cyanide, arsenic, lead, mercury, and
Idaho-Maryland Mining company.
connection, financial or otherwise, with Emgold or the
different countries. Lastly, I have absolutely no
four states and have worked on 120 gold plats in 22
engineer. I have been a licensed registered engineer in
engineering and an honorary degree as a metallurgical
Science degree in both chemistry and metallurgical
Metallurgical Society of America. I have a Master of
Metallurgy and Exploration and president of the Mining and
and I have served as president of the Society of Mining
I have been in the mining industry for 55 years,
I've been in the Grass Valley area for -- since 1984.
ROBERT SHOEMAKER: My name is Robert Shoemaker.
--oOo--
far they can be felt. Thank you.
explosives, and I wonder how far they can be heard and how
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 entail removing 1,600 acre feet of water and then
it turns out to empty or to dewater the mine it will
perspective, if you do the arithmetic that's in the DEIR
see in the DEIR dealing with water. And just to put it in
What I want to address are deficiencies that I
watershed.
City. That's on the upper end of the Wolf Creek
Willy Kollmeyer. I live at 12712 Morro Drive, Nevada
WILLY KOLLMEYER: Good evening. My name is
--oOo--
will be an asset to Grass Valley and Nevada County.
and operate a safe and environmentally sound project that
county and city laws and requirements in order to build
my opinion, will far exceed all of the federal, state,
working with no problems. I wish to state that Emgold, in
South Africa gold mine where there are thousands of men
I have been three miles down in the earth in a
if the air they breathed is not completely satisfactory.
entities that they operate under would certainly complain
working today. And all those miners and the government
there are hundreds or thousands of underground mines
they came to that conclusion. I do know, however, that
Since the mine is full of water it is difficult to see how
could complain about, and that was the underground air.
environmental report have found only one item that they
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 So basically we have a lot of people living up
no data on that Weimar Fault.
be either conduits or they can be barriers. But there is
acts as a barrier, yet within the DEIR it says faults can
Also, there's an implicit assumption that the Weimar Fault
the DEIR that speaks to well monitoring in that area.
damage. But there's basically not one piece of data in
Road, has been assigned Very Low Risk area for well
upper watershed of Wolf Creek, everything above Brunswick
Then when you read the DEIR you'll see that the
every year for the next 20 years.
amount of water, enough water for half of Banner Mountain
huge well down here that is sucking out a tremendous
uphill of this mine. And basically we're talking about a
half you still have about 1,200 parcels which are all
parcels are at risk, but if you just chop that mountain in
families up there. And I'm not saying that all 2,400
all of which have houses. So there's less than 2,400
Association confines, there are about 2,400 parcels, not
Mountain, within the Banner Mountain Homeowners
Now, to put that more in perspective, on Banner
various places. Some places say four, some say five.
for a family of four for about a year. You can read
another 1,300 acre feet. An acre foot of water is enough
thereafter, to keep the mine dry and operable, about
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 residents in and around the area of the old Idaho-Maryland
a neighborhood association called BARC. BARC represents
14069 Diamond Court in Grass Valley. I'm the president of
JIM OTTO: My name is Jim Otto, and I live at
--oOo--
you.
mitigations and measures are taken to protect us. Thank
about it. So I hope you can see to it that proper
pumping out and there's a lot of people very concerned
up in the first year. But that's a lot of water we're
show up years later; this is not necessarily going to show
least the Wolf Creek watershed. Because this damage could
you require the mine to do some monitoring of wells in at
So we would ask that, as a bare minimum, that
mitigations is really unacceptable.
without any data, without any monitoring, without any
think that to arbitrarily put us into a Very Low Risk area
between the mine and the rest of the surroundings. So I
that no one truly knows the hydrogeologic connection
down another 3,000 feet. And the DEIR says repeatedly
The mine down here is about what, 23, 24, plus it goes
that the water flows continually, it is about 3,200 feet.
a topog map, the upper end of Wolf Creek, our map shows
viability of their groundwater wells. And if you look on
on the mountain who feel very uncomfortable as to the
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 connect a permanent feeder line from the East Bennett
within 14 days of an impacted well. The process to
High and Moderate Risk wells will be connected to NID
pipeline. The DEIR mitigation measure 4.7.3-b states that
connect each High and Moderate Risk well owner to the NID
on East Bennett Road, but the feeder lines that will
The problems are not with the main NID pipeline
problems begin.
the East Bennett Road NID pipeline. And this is where the
the impacted property will need to be quickly connected to
the applicant starts dewatering and the well is impacted,
starts dewatering -- thank you. That being the case, when
dewatering. That being the case, when the applicant
Bennett Road would be required prior to the start of
installation and completion of an NID pipeline down East
after speaking with Tom Last and Jeff Harvey that
EIR is confusing and contradictory, it's our understanding
Although some of the mitigation language in the
owners.
related to providing permanent NID water to impacted well
I want to focus on the specific problems and issues
Idaho-Maryland Mine and I have a High Risk well. Tonight
On a personal note, I live directly over the
and the well dewatering issue is an intense concern to us.
Mine workings, and we're at ground zero for this project
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 and recorded for many of the High and Moderate Risk
the big one -- deeded easements will need to be completed
to install the permanent feeder lines; five -- and this is
acceptable to NID to supervise and direct the contractor
the applicant will need to hire an engineering company
will need to hire a contractor to perform the work; four,
NID will need to review the design; three, the applicant
design the permanent feeder lines to NID standards; two,
Phase I, the applicant must hire an engineer to
operational:
the NID pipeline down East Bennett Road is in place and
applicant prior to dewatering. The following assumes that
well thought-out plan needs to be put in place by the
the property owners to NID is not a slam dunk, and that a
be an expert in this area. My point is that connecting
face-to-face meeting with NID staff. I don't profess to
the NID pipeline. This information was obtained in a
be completed before the feeder lines can be connected to
The following is a list of actions that need to
unreasonable.
without a permanent water supply is unfair and
that be reduced to seven days. Subject to two weeks
complete. And by the way, BARC is going to be asking that
process that will take much longer than 14 days to
pipeline to the impacted property is a time-consuming
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 contain strong and thorough mitigation language that would
Therefore, we ask the commission that the EIR
their way through the courts. This is not acceptable.
quote, temporary water supply while easement issues work
the impacted well owners could be stuck long-term with a,
challenges. If this issue is not adequately addressed,
this could present significant and protracted legal
some of the High and Moderate Risk parcels. In some cases
Especially of concern is getting easements granted for
items the feeder lines will need to be connected to NID.
account the time necessary to complete all the required
The point here is the DEIR does not take into
NID main pipeline and then NID takes over the maintenance.
phase, the feeder lines will need to be connected to the
disinfected, tested again and flushed. In the third
line needs to be constructed, inspected, tested,
The second phase, the actual construction, the
NID.
cost of a one-year applicant warranty on the pipeline to
to be funded and in place for construction costs, plus the
action.); six, all financial assurances or bonding needs
time-consuming and in some cases could require legal
obtaining easements from property owners could be very
voluntarily or via eminent domain. In either case,
parcels. (Note: According to NID, these easements could be
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 mining to clean coal. There is no such thing. Mining is
impacts. After reading the DEIR, I can only equate modern
modern mining which will not create any significant
We are being told that there is something called
allowing mining in the middle of our community.
emissions -- I cannot support anything other than not
trucks, the inherent pollution and greenhouse gas
dewatering, blasting, noise, dust, massive numbers of
due to the significant impacts of even that scenario --
but moving processing to an outlying location. However,
that I could recommend, like allowing extraction of rock
I have tried to find a scenario for this project
be forced on our community are immense.
the magnitude of this project and the changes that would
project and reading the DEIR. As described in the DEIR,
spent a considerable amount of time thinking about this
Bogart. I live on Banner Mountain in Nevada City. I have
BOB BOGART: Good evening. My name is Bob
--oOo--
time.
review and oversight it deserves. Thank you for your
of mine dewatering in order to give this project the
mitigation measures need to be in place prior to the start
well (sic) but outside the city limits. We feel these
protect water supplies of those of us living next to the
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 or biomass power generation, we will have hundreds of
opportunities, and using some of the land for solar farms
in the R & D for alternative energy, other high tech
Century mining project into attracting 21st Century jobs
of the effort that is now being expended on this 19th
Valley General Plan, if we, as a community, put a fraction
Alternatively, if we follow the existing Grass
There is no depression-proof magic to be found here.
in 1936 16 percent of the community was doing mining.
possibly be considered employed in mining in 2020, whereas
Remember, at most, .4 percent of the community could
with the permit in the likely case that Emgold sells it.
in order to enrich Emgold and whoever actually winds up
We cannot afford to wager our community's health
governor, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the EPA.
Freddie Mac, the California legislature, the California
the Securities and Exchange Commission, AIG, Fannie Mae,
recently, you know how well this scenario has worked out:
our best interests. If you have looked at the news
understaffed government agencies who will all represent
benevolent corporation and our trust in our overworked and
We are told to put all of our trust into a
middle of our community, exactly that.
in different ways from 150 years ago perhaps, but, in the
what it has always been, dirty, dangerous and polluting;
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 In the EIR, under the definitions of impact,
Clark, 324 Vistamont Drive, Grass Valley.
WILLIAM CLARK: Good evening. I'm William
--oOo--
where it belongs, in the recycling bin.
that label. I think it's past time this project goes
not bring any other companies into this area once you get
essentially be labeled as tech not friendly, and they will
values. If even one tech company leaves this area we will
of tax revenue and consequential further loss of home
realistically, we would see a net loss of jobs, a net loss
become so compromised they decide to go elsewhere. Thus,
because, like the residents, the quality of life will have
continue to do business either due to the blasting or
will leave because the companies that are here now cannot
residents that is likely to occur if it starts. The jobs
the loss of high-paying jobs and the loss of high wealth
An under-discussed concern about this project is
to try.
stimulate job creation and company creation. We just have
am certain that we can put together numerous incentives to
funds that are being made available for these projects. I
community, and we can get help from state and federal
environmentally responsible. We will be improving our
local jobs that will be permanent, high-paying and
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
(800)482-9120 (530)272-4422
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25 probably doesn't affect air quality as such.
discuss this under aesthetics or something since it
cloud more northward by the prevailing winds. Maybe
going to form a plume, and they'll condense forming a
building. The 1,300 degree Fahrenheit gases, they're
flume gases from the 81-foot tall stacks in the ceramic
should expand the discussion of impacts due to the exhaust
In the appendix on air quality, I think the EIR
Idaho-Maryland in operation.
PM2.5 we're in worse shape already without even adding the
standard. Doing so would indicate that for ozone PM10 and
only. The EIR should reference the much stricter state
monitored amounts, and it references the federal standard
page 4.2-2 that lists the various standards for ozone, the
On the air quality of the EIR there's a table on
whatever that is.
mitigation. CEQA talks about getting to a baseline level,
definite indication of exactly what was left after the
to be Less Than Significant lacked any quantitative or
as I read it, very few -- the impacts that were mitigated
the purposes of the EIR? With few exceptions in the EIR
is what is less than significant? Who defines this for
mitigated to a level Less Than Significant. The question
Than Significant. Class II says: Significant, but
CEQA definitions, Class III says: Adverse impact, Less
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
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25 impacts of air quality, the roadways and traffic due to
out of the area. I believe the EIR should quantify the
supplementing the revenue by selling aggregate materials
Also, there's mention of Idaho-Maryland
even get a handle on the amount.
There's nothing, there's nothing listed or discussed to
applicant will bear costs of these as appropriate.
measures that are going to be required. The City and the
discussion of costs related to the 83 separate mitigation
discussion of capital improvement projects. There's no
is going to have to buy. No mention of that in the
mention of a new special purchase fire truck that the City
In the fiscal analysis in the appendix there's
million dollars a year is considered not viable.
no discussion listed, as to why a revenue stream of 40
to only daytime it's hard for me to believe, since there's
million dollars a year average. By restricting operations
$800 an ounce that's over 1.1 billion dollars or 80
we're standing on. Over a 15-year period of operation, at
over 1.4 million ounces of gold underneath the ground
It's estimated by a Union newspaper article that there's
dismissed out of hand as being not economically viable.
means daytime operations only. In the EIR this is
there's an alternative called restricted operations, which
One of the sections on project alternatives,
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
131 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945
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25 world. Unless you get your hands in there and get ahold
called awareness. You can read all the books in the
what powder is used. And it kind of gives you a thing
is, I know what a bowl hole is, what lifter holes are,
underground. I did drill a round. I know what a jackleg
I am not classified as a miner, but I did go
work for Seneca Mining Corporation.
the Marine Corps as a naval aviator, came home, went to
South (inaudible) another two years, did eight years in
here, graduated from college, Sierra College, went to
I graduated from high school up here, and raised
10368 Adams Avenue, Grass Valley.
CARL BOLTON: My name is Carl Bolton. I live at
--oOo--
(inaudible). Thank you.
discussion and not just leave it as a footnote on
City. I think the EIR should highlight this as a
the Nevada County area. That's listed as an income to the
said that 10 percent of the ceramic tiles would be sold in
Idaho-Maryland offered by the applicant. Its estimate
There's a line item on income from
separate item in the EIR.
people's windshields. At least identify that as a
with the gravel bouncing on the roads and cracking
the gravel trucks rumbling down Highway 49 and Highway 20
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25 drying up is, go to the little town of Sutter Creek over
should know, is drying up. And if you want to know what
But this, this town of Grass Valley, as you all
area.
they've got trucks at a certain time, I will avoid the
to let them make a living. I will take my time -- if
I will bend. If people got to make a living, I will bend
the ones that shut down the racing because of the noise.
it's over by ten o'clock. I live with it. I'm not one of
at the fairgrounds. I'm not up to that type of music, but
and that, noise pollution and so forth. I hear the noise
I'm really -- you know, I hear stories of this
because of mining and logging.
wonderful up here. We never had a recession in the '30s
overloaded for unemployment requests. Our economy is not
crashed, I think it was New York and Maryland, for being
big look what's going on. Today in the news two computers
is in such wonderful financial shape they'd better take a
to knock the trucks off. If everybody thinks this county
only one little area. Don't tell those people down there
Lake and the Yuba City lines I counted 19 trucks. That's
I was in Yuba City last week, and between Ellis
Trucks, too much powder, it goes on and on.
what's going on. We've got a big fear factor here going.
of it, it makes no difference at all. You don't know
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25 right now, a once in a lifetime. If you shut her down
And I think you people have a golden opportunity
deeper there wouldn't be any unemployment.
this town and work. If this recession goes deeper and
the guy at the grocery store. There's going to be jobs in
you tell the barber that or the guy at the gas station,
there's no money going to be in Grass Valley. Why don't
we see more stores close up. I've heard stuff like, oh,
prosper. I hope we don't get into a deeper recession and
This town is built on mining. This town can still
So I hear all these arguments and so forth.
mess. They'll be shut down if they even try.
even start. Not only that, they do not want to leave a
1849. You're not allowed. They're bonded before they
and federal regulations, and so forth, this isn't 1950 or
As far as mining and the air quality goes, with the state
not in Silicon Valley. Now we're not talking cheap labor.
here for one reason, cheap labor. That's why it's here,
this high tech business is doing so wonderful. And it's
And as far as legacy goes, I don't see where
rights.
(inaudible) rights, but also the people that work's
right. I have fought for these rights. I fought for the
this country. This is America. You know, we have a
by Jackson. It's almost a ghost town. We need jobs in
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25 going on right now, look at Lake Tahoe and the
I think if you look and see what's actually
your ear and close it and say whatever.
You can make it a viable project, or you can just turn
smart people, you're smart people. You can work together.
unemployment rates here out of sight, work. And these are
want to see that get any worse than it is. We have
county. And it's pretty bad. It's pitiful. And I don't
delivered Christmas baskets. I saw the need in this
I'm past president of the local Lions Club. I
whatever. What can you do for Nevada County?
County can give you, or the State of California or
for your country." Let's turn it. Ask not what Nevada
not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do
me me. One of our great presidents made a statement, "Ask
standing here going I'm against this, I'm against that, me
out and worked? Because a working man wouldn't be
really aware what is going on? Have they ever really gone
Awareness, awareness, awareness. Are they
with what you've got. People got concerns.
And, you know, it's up to you people. And I empathize
as far as legacies, but we have a future ahead of us.
brothels and all that stuff, I don't think it's necessary
as far as legacies, I don't -- I'm not going to get into
you'll never see it back again. So that's up to you. And
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25 David Watkins (sic) of the Idaho-Maryland Mine
Council and the Planning Commission of Grass Valley.
mitigations has got to be an all-time record for the City
action to render their effects less harmful. Eighty-four
mitigations. Mitigations are problems that need specific
Commission in the last 22 years. This project has 84
project to come before the Grass Valley Planning
industrial tile plant. In other words, this is the worst
the reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine and its huge
the last 22 years. I've never seen a project as bad as
My two kids and I have lived and farmed here for
Lane in Penn Valley, California.
downstream water user in Penn Valley, 14318 Pilot Peak
commissioners. I'm Mike Pasner, a local family farmer, a
MIKE PASNER: Good evening, planning
--oOo--
time.
work. And I empathize with you and I thank yous for your
back into balance. Level it up. Give people a right to
of balance right now. You people need to bring the scales
needles and limbs they couldn't trim. This thing is out
at their belongings gone, a whole life gone for pine
ones that their houses are burnt down and they got to look
about. The only people that really understand it is the
environmentalists up there, what they were hollering
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25 The Draft EIR expects 18 wells to go dry. Many
traffic plan is really awful.
where the trucks will actually get on the highway. This
where students cross to get to the Safeway, and that's
truck every six minutes will drive by the Hennessy School
This is one of the busiest streets in Grass Valley. One
They'll drive the frontage road past the new Holiday Inn.
speed during the weave so they go back off of the freeway.
freeway. They're too big and heavy and can't get up to
they were getting on the freeway, but they won't enter the
traffic circle daily. They'll follow the weave as though
tailings or tile made of toxic rock will go around the new
ridiculous. One hundred sixty semis loaded with toxic
The truck traffic plan in the Draft EIR is
this factory and mine will lower property values.
can see many businesses and homes, and you understand why
24 hours a day. When you stand there looking around you
(sic) smokestacks billowing superheated steam into the air
Creek and Highway 49. They can visualize the six ten foot
Immediately below this industrial site you'll see Wolf
You look at the front doors of the Board of Realtors.
Grass Valley. You can see the hospital right above you.
site folks get a feeling that they are in the city of
proposed mine site. I think this is wonderful. On this
chooses to have his employees give guided tours of the
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25 --oOo-- www.CLAIM.GrassValley.org. Thank you for your time.
for CLAIM, Citizens Looking at the Impacts of Mining,
more about this project or comment on the Draft EIR, look
will you really approve this project? If you want to know
mine? Planning commissioners and city council members,
giant corporation into the city limits of Grass Valley to
Mining or a giant Chinese mining corporation or another
Will the City of Grass Valley welcome Newmont
environmental records in the world.
read. This giant corporation has one of the worst
National Geographic magazine, which you should get and
Corporation is mentioned repeatedly in this month's
they can sell the project at any time. Newmont Mining
Watkins (sic) has said that as a junior mining corporation
mineral rights on three sides of this project. David
Newmont Mining Corporation has approximately 240 acres of
The mine has 139 acres of mineral rights.
talking about.
front yards. This is one of the 84 mitigations we're
will be fed through long hoses and water trucks in their
will not have permanent NID water for three years. They
pumping for 20 years. NID says the 85 homes up on Banner
to pump dry 72 miles of underground tunnels and continue
suspect as many as 360 wells will go dry. The IMM hopes
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25 our waterways -- they don't tell you there will be water
to use, such as the pumped water is going to contaminate
the EIR, but only use the parts of the statement they want
Many who oppose this project make statements on
was created later on.
open, and they would have had to clean up the mess that
there that they have today. That mine would have been
Lava Cap, the taxpayers would not have the problem out
If we'd of listened when they tried to open the Banner
mine, we're going to contaminate the soils and everything.
I've listened to all types of hogwash: move the
Now is the time to look forward to some action.
forward. We're in the stage of paralysis by analysis.
done. I ask you to accept this Draft EIR and move
opinion, brings that to Less Than Significant and has been
environmental issues and means to mitigate them, in my
the creation of this document showing all the
The endless hours of input that has gone into
that.
a decision must be made. I'm sure you're going to do
first also I'd like to say you can't please everyone, but
to say first good evening, ladies and gentlemen. And
I spent all my life around here. And I'd like
is 14297 Wardens Court, Grass Valley.
BOB WILDER: Well, I am Bob Wilder. My address
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25 close to home and they're not going over into Nevada and
right tonight that wish to the devil there was a mine here
I'll bet you there's several miners in this room here
And we talk about, well, there's no miners here.
outside the industry.
of those jobs that is created helps seven other jobs
they probably wouldn't hire as many people. But every one
they would hire more people. If it's not going real good,
don't believe. If things were going real good, I'm sure
you a thing that is for a fact. They really don't know I
states how many jobs they surmise, but they're not telling
And they talk about the number of jobs. The EIR
And I'd like you to please look at those things.
going to be enclosed. There will be very little noise.
pollution. Also, when it comes to noise, everything is
onto us and that is supposed to be reducing some of that
done, but that is a requirement that our state has now put
everything else because of it. I don't see how it can be
So -- and that's to clean up the emissions and
older than 2010.
trucks by the year 2012 is supposed to have a motor no
is going to have to have all truck traffic -- all large
tell you that our governor has signed into law AB 32 that
pollution will create all kinds of trouble. They don't
treatment plants to treat that water -- and that the air
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25 My comments are provided and offered to address
considered, let alone wasting this much time and money.
any one area, as a mine reopening would have would even be
anything close to the environmental impact in any area, in
business that wanted to come to this area that had
for much, much longer. No other project, no other
on for three and a half years and undoubtedly will go on
It will divide the community, and has already been going
to the commission because I know you have a hot potato.
And before I start, I would offer my condolences
from the entrance to the Brunswick site.
and I live at 12176 East Bennett Road, a tenth of a mile
BOB CLARK: Good evening. My name is Bob Clark
--oOo--
again. Thank you.
times when the mine was running. I hope it's opened
she lived here all her life, and she says it was good
except one that I know of, who lives in Yuba City. And
are in favor of this project. They're all local people,
names to the Planning Department yesterday of people who
tax base. I turned in, and I hope you received it, 170
at that because it would give us some jobs and it's a good
So anyway, I ask you to take a good close look
somewhere.
working or working on some tunnel job down along the coast
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25 impacts in the mine reopening. These, as a result, will
under- and over-estimating environmental and economic
individuals over which it has no authority, and through
exceeding its legal authority to impose change on those
misrepresentation, errors of commission and omission,
responsibilities to area residents through
failed its legal, fiduciary, moral and ethical
the company that developed the EIR, in my mind, will have
individually, the employees or the president of IMM and
individually, this commission and its members
Grass Valley, the city council and its members
Should the reopening issue pass, the City of
appropriate:
others' ability to pursue legal actions as they may be
am making the following statement to protect both my and
to be permitted to reopen there will be legal action. I
I have absolute confidence that if the mine were
Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing."
notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the
hearings for the particular projects described in this
issues you or someone else has raised at the public
or in court, you may be limited to raising only those
Planning Commission's action on appeal to the City Council
announcement of this hearing: "If you challenge the
the following statement provided in the invitation or the
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25 and said hey, Caltrans, how many losses of life will that
And to my knowledge, no one has even picked up the phone
of the project, from a million to 15 million truck trips.
depending on the numbers you want to choose over the life
the City's financial liability that will result from,
the loss of life, personal injury and property damage, and
Failure to identify, disclose or even consider
traffic, and general safety;
the area in general in terms of air quality, noise,
residents in the area who reside near the mine sites and
Significantly impacting the quality of life of
mitigation;
concurrence and failure to provide long-term, acceptable
dewatering of residential wells without the owners'
Permitting actions that will result in the
caused me to discount anything else he had to say as well;
with all these negative environmental impacts opened, it
mile from the mine, would go up in value after this mine
of IMM tried to convince me that my property, a tenth of a
property values in the area of the mine -- the president
impact on the environment and the resulting negative
Failure to identify and disclose or mitigate the
following factors, but not limited to them:
take on personal and group financial liability for the
cause these organizations and individuals, in my mind, to
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25 negative implications and those specifically that are --
feasibility report and the EIR, instead of showing more
only best case illustrations, both in the economic
I believe there's liability based on providing
provides those residents any representations.
limits over which the City does not have jurisdiction nor
action that will impact residents outside of the city
additional financial implications as a result of taking
I believe that the City -- or that there will be
of that.
ability and there's been no document which has shown any
to my knowledge, there's been no disclosure of financial
business partner was capable of doing his end of it. And
you would sit down and determine whether or not your
going to take on a business venture, I would think that
follow through on his end of it. If you personally were
ability of the proposed partner in this operation to
and money -- for anyone to determine the real financial
spending the last three and half years, the time, effort
financial liability and suit is the failure -- prior to
Another area that I believe that there will be
any business, just because it has the word "gold" in it.
lives. It's not acceptable, and it's not acceptable in
we'll have a ratio, this number of jobs equals this many
result in? Because they can tell us, and perhaps then
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25 as the community will be named; if my water well goes dry
goes down, there will be lawsuits, and individuals as well
principle. And I can promise that if my property value
do. I've spent a lot of money on lawyers in the past on
know what other people will do, I can guarantee what I'll
While this list may not be inclusive and I don't
BOB CLARK: I certainly will.
Mr. Wilder -- I mean Mr. Clark. Sorry.
THE CHAIRMAN: If you could wrap it up,
offering any kind of mitigation in that regard.
the huge consumption of that of the mine and not even
the area increased costs in gas and electricity based to
liability for imposing on the City -- on the residents of
Finally, there, I believe, should be financial
quality standards and which could not be mitigated.
project was identified as one that would exceed air
and well-being of citizens given that, at the onset, this
There is liability based on damage to the health
money.
whatever, there's no way for the City to recover its
exceeded in terms of impact, loss -- number of jobs or
remedy provided should the results not be equal or
opening the mine. There is no long-term monitoring or
of the financial cost and financial benefit as a result of
and because there has been no separation, as an example,
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25 winds are not west in this area. So whatever the study
be done. And correct me if I'm wrong, but the prevailing
rate would be west of the site where the work is going to
done is that they took air samples and what the exposure
carcinogens. One of the ways it said that that study was
air quality was an additional risk to cancer-causing
be mitigated was air quality, and one of the items in the
One of the items that the DEIR stated could not
I live at 13030 Cedar Crest Lane in Grass Valley.
MELVIN SHIMADA: Hi, my name is Melvin Shimada.
--oOo--
own city ordinances. Thank you.
further consideration of this will be in the face of our
and picking up his load of rock? And I believe that
and picking up his cup of coffee or a truck going through
city. What is the difference between a car going through
denied any drive-through business in the future in our
open a drive-through, not only denied that, but they
The City, as a result of someone -- Starbucks wanting to
enforcement of ordinances that already exist in the city.
and get us out of this terrible mess. It simply requires
this group could take that could mitigate this whole thing
There is, however, I believe, an action that
thing.
the same thing; if my quality of life goes down, the same
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25 This project is way too big for this community.
these other mine tailings anywhere in this county?
ceramics on that site, why couldn't you do it on any of
thing to me. I mean, if you were going to be able to make
going to happen. It doesn't sound like a feasible type of
This ceramics plant, we don't know if that's
promises, hollow promises, just like 20 years.
community before a few jobs. And many of those jobs are
are going to put our health and our welfare and our
endanger my life. To me, it's a question of whether we
here, but I don't want to stay here if it's going to
I live here. I like the air. I want to stay
neighborhood.
chance of getting cancer if you live anywhere in this
and extrapolate them to 70 years, you have a very high
completely erroneous. If you were to take their numbers
realistically, this study on the cancer exposure is
these cancer exposure studies were based on 70 years. So
sky. It could be 20 years. It could be 70 years. And
years. Well, we all know that the 20 years is pie in the
exposure because the planned life of this mine is 20
did their calculations, they based it on a 20-year
If you were to do the calculations the way they
misleading.
was that they did is just completely erroneous and
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25 HEIDI HALL: Good evening. I'm Heidi Hall. I
--oOo--
live in as it has been. Thank you.
make a lot of noise. It will not be as nice a place to
property values down. It will pollute the air. It will
recognize and they won't move here. It will drive the
here, but that will create a change that other people will
community to live in. That's why I moved here, I love it
ambience of the community. This community is a nice
It's going to be so big it will change the whole
going to be able to control it once it's here.
this is like an elephant in a china shop. You're just not
get us to buy off on it, and I'm not going to. You know,
here to stay. Twenty years is just their way of trying to
able to get it out. We all know that once it's here it's
Once that mine goes in, we're not going to be
able to change that.
That is substantial pollution, and we're not going to be
converters they put on or how they change the diesel fuel.
pollution from that. It don't matter how many catalytic
trips, the noise from that being mitigated, the air
can mitigate the noise, but I don't see, 1,400 truck
the quality of life, the noise. You know, they say they
day. That's one a minute. Imagine what that will do to
We're talking fourteen or eighteen hundred truck trips a
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25 films that are going to be shown actually document the
week at the film festival you can see how many of the 100
dividing communities. If you have any doubt of this, next
This is a tired old story. They also come in and end up
This is across the board. This is not new.
modern methods.
environmental impacts, and they all talk about using
revenue. They minimize or even lie about the
They come in and they promise jobs and they promise tax
industrial business such as coal, copper or gold mining.
rural city or a county and proposes to run a dirty
entity, often foreign-owned like Emgold, comes into a
this entire country for the last several decades. A big
been played out not dozens, but hundreds of times across
this in this country. This is a tired old story. It's
of the history -- aware of your history in projects like
make sure that you and the Planning Commission are aware
As an environmental professional, I'm here to
will fit more with this new greener era we're coming into.
putting all this effort into good, sustainable jobs that
have never even been given the green light, instead of
on having to fight against a business proposal that should
having to spend this much time, money and emotional energy
I am deeply disappointed this community is
live on Heigen Court in Grass Valley.
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I want to suggest that there is another way.
reacting to whatever dirty jobs are being offered to us.
and monitoring this mine. We need to say no to just
how much quality this corporation will bring to running
poor DEIR, which, to my mind, is a very telling sign of
need to say no. We need to say no to an embarrassingly
expensive and tiring process which benefits no one. We
and I don't want us to be fools marching into a long,
promise of jobs. I repeat that this is not a new play,
unsophisticated, uninformed and easily bought by the
thing, our ignorance. They count on rural areas to be
Be clear that these corporations count on one
long and ugly history of this in this country.
If you know anything about corporate rights, there's a
fails, they will go to court and claim corporate rights.
makers and they start expensive ad campaigns. If all else
beginning to form then they start to bully local decision-
First the company plays nice, but if they see opposition
only in act one, and we're all playing our expected roles.
This is a tired old script and we're all here
history.
numerous websites, articles, books that document this
experience a project like this one. I can also send you
devastation of communities across this country who had to
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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So I want to end with three points. Don't be
down before us and not learn our lessons from them.
down the same old road that hundreds of people have gone
something new and different. It would be foolish to go
forefront, good clean jobs. It's not rocket science to do
beginning of a new green revolution which has jobs at the
In case you guys haven't noticed, we're at the
community by a project like this.
way to bring together a community rather than divide a
difficult, but it can be incredibly successful and a great
Again, this has been done in other communities. It's
up with incentives to bring them here and take action?
we research who's got them to offer, and why don't we come
decide what type of jobs we want and how many? Why don't
get together and determine our own future? Why don't we
that are interested in creating jobs here? Why don't we
two chambers of commerce, the ERC and other small entities
Why don't we coordinate two cities, one county,
jobs.
reactive and get out in front of the issue of the need for
all rocket science, but it requires that we stop being
with our own solutions for our job needs? This is not at
whatever dirty jobs are offered to us instead of coming up
this community that we have to sit here and react to
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 This statement doesn't take into account all the
connect the affected well owner's home to the NID system.
the High to Moderate Risk well areas, the applicant shall
14 days of an identification of dewatering impact within
Mitigation measure 4.7-3b states that: Within
of those.
mitigation measures and make a brief comment on each one
impacted wells. I would like to briefly read those three
three actually deal with the restoration of the water to
are only five mitigation measures. Of those five, only
measures dealing with groundwater impact on wells, there
In the DEIR section that lists mitigation
groundwater impacts on domestic wells.
tonight I'll address only the DEIR mitigation measures for
and has been identified as one of the High Risk wells. So
mine workings. My well is on the well monitoring program
My home and well are located directly above the
Grass Valley.
is Gary Pierazzi, and I live at 13997 Emerald Court in
GARY PIERAZZI: Hello, commissioners. My name
--oOo--
well-paying, sustainable jobs. Thank you.
all be our own deciders and creators of excellent, clean,
deceptive mine proposal. And do get active in helping us
unsophisticated. Just say no to this ridiculous and
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 covered to be hooked up to a permanent water source if
Well, this makes it sound like everyone is
to installation of a permanent water source.
temporary water source to the affected well owners prior
wells, Idaho-Maryland Mine Corporation shall provide a
If dewatering impact occurs at domestic water supply
The third mitigation measure, 4.7-3d, states:
no plans in place to deal with a situation like this.
so-called expected area of impact? In this DEIR there are
go dry. What happens if wells start going dry outside the
mitigation for those people if their wells are impacted or
also contradicts -- excuse me. There's no mention of
the High and Moderate Risk Well areas from protection. It
Okay. This statement excludes anyone outside
supply of water.
shall ensure that the property is provided with an NID
part of the groundwater monitoring program, the applicant
a High To Moderate Risk well but that is not currently
current operable domestic water supply which is considered
states: In the event that dewatering impacts occur at a
The second mitigation measure is 4.7-3c. And it
being set in place.
happen in 14 days without a plan and time line already
Mr. Otto pointed out previously. This cannot feasibly
actions that need to be completed for this mitigation as
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 I differed with, quite a few.
Going through it, I thought there was a lot of places that
a two-inch document. I thought that was a little much.
Print & Copy to pick it up and I was surprised when I saw
I learned that the EIR was out, and I went up to
at 437 French Avenue, Grass Valley.
JACK CLARK: My name is Jack Clark, and I live
--oOo--
(Recess taken.)
their wells. Thank you.
to provide protection to homeowners against impacts to
have the DEIR well mitigation measures rewritten in order
and they're inadequate. So I'm urging the commission to
general and don't describe how they are to be implemented,
contradictory. There are simplistic statements that are
not well thought out. It's incomplete and it's
DEIR regarding restoring water to impacted well owners is
owners. My point is that the mitigation measures in this
tables that address restoration of water to impacted well
the only listed mitigation measures in the DEIR mitigation
As you can see, I am concerned those three are
table to implement this particular mitigation in the DEIR.
wells being covered. And there are no plans or a time
measure that only includes the High and Moderate Risk
impacted. It also contradicts the previous mitigation
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 small blast, is what you get.
the next hole with seconds apart. So it's essentially one
blast one hole, the next hole, then the next hole, then
you don't blast entirely the whole round at a time. You
blasting on the surface. Now, you have to remember that
Now, there's other times that they talked about
that I ever did.
feel any vibrations at all, or at least I can't remember
where it's a safe location from the blasting. You didn't
You could, you could be on the station or you could be
motion that it makes. We didn't feel anything down there.
before and after the war. And they talked about the
I was all through the mines at the time, both
war the same way.
many, many miners blasting at the same time. After the
is so dense that it doesn't go through it. There was
didn't hear a blast like you do on the surface. The rock
in, of course. Now, all you heard was a thump. You
doing the blasting would be in an area that was safe to be
I was there at the time. And all the miners that were
underground, there was a lot of blasting on every level.
picture back in 1941 when we had a thousand men working
would cause a lot of noise and all. Now, if you'll
blasting underground. Some people have thought that this
I wanted to point out in the EIR it mentions the
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 significant adverse effect on air quality that cannot be
The Draft EIR finds that there will be a
My address is 446 Glenwood Road in Grass Valley.
PAT HENDERSON: Hello, my name is Pat Henderson.
--oOo--
Thank you.
of the places, or the entities that we had to abide by.
Everything complied with the rules and regulations of all
magazine, and then they would be taken out as needed.
periodically. They would go to the Class I explosive
any problems. We had truckloads of explosives coming in
them. All the time I was there, in 13 years, we never had
listed in the EIR. We stored them, used them and handled
the cyanide plant, the same identical chemicals that are
chemicals used were going to present a problem. We used,
people thinking that the amount of explosives used, the
Now, another thing that was brought up about the
next door. You figure that out.
blasting to put in the parking lot. The hospital is right
area of that hill, solid rock. They did an awful lot of
Building 4 at the hospital they leveled off that whole top
it at the hospital. Now, to point out, when they built
blasting at the Idaho-Maryland site. They will not feel
targets as to having problems. No problems at all with
The hospital was supposed to be one of the
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
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25 you.
gold. Quality of life is more precious than gold. Thank
those words are: Quality of life is more precious than
because you've had a lot of information to digest. And
And I leave you with these very important words
pollution to Grass Valley if we have a mine here?
how can we complain to Sacramento about them bringing air
will keep people and businesses from moving here. Also,
of the area, and how the increased degradation of our air
impact in terms of people and businesses who will move out
Furthermore, the EIR should address the economic
deaths and added health costs.
air quality will mean to the area in terms of premature
updated and quantify what the increased deterioration in
was being prepared, the EIR is incomplete and should be
information, which was not available while the Draft EIR
Twenty-eight billion dollars a year. Given this
or other health problems is 28 billion dollars a year.
health in infants, children, and adults at risk due to age
cost to the State in premature deaths and deteriorating
California is 3,000 additional deaths each year; 2. The
result of nonattainment of air quality standards in
California State University Fullerton finds that: 1. The
impacts of an increase in degraded air. A study done by
mitigated. However, the report does not detail the health
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
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25 I have three issues to point out briefly
Mountain.
Hall, and I live at 12830 Quaker Hill Cross Road on Banner
HELENE HALL: Good evening. My name is Helene
--oOo--
cause an ounce of problems. So thank you.
air quality things that they have on the trucks now won't
themselves off after two minutes, a truck idling. And the
The trucks, you don't idle them anymore. They shut
trucks idling, I heard it talked about how much they idle.
adequately without any health problems. As far as the
So I know that the transportation can be handled
they'll wish there was a mine working here.
and when half of the stores are closed in Grass Valley
Grass Valley economics are going to get 100 times worse,
take care of the trucking that they're going to do. And
measures that they have for the roads is very adequate to
trucks, we still got along fine then, and the mitigating
within one mile of the Idaho-Maryland Mine. And the
involved with trucks. Years ago there was four sawmills
trucks, I've been doing that for now 70 years just about,
And I want to address the traffic. As far as
live at 11090 Northview Drive in Nevada City.
LOWELL ROBINSON: My name is Lowell Robinson. I
--oOo--
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25 and what we have here in our county.
The Draft EIR does not address the impact on the evening
evenings, our brilliant stargazing, for 200 to 400 jobs.
sky. Please don't take our beautiful Nevada County quiet
treasures of our rural quality of life here is the night
on our night sky. One of the most beautiful and priceless
adequately address the impacts of air quality cumulative
Third, the mine -- the Draft EIR does not
am requesting a study and an evaluation of that.
mining operations of daytime noise and nighttime noise. I
the mining noise be complete with legitimate samples of
evaluate this impact. I would like to request a study of
and I want to see an adequate noise study performed to
24/7. At night the noise travels farther and is louder,
nighttime operations of the mine, which will be running
not adequately consider the impact of noise created by the
Secondly, the Idaho-Maryland Mine Draft EIR does
worse.
lights in their parking lot? This is going to be much
You remember the problem generated by Weaver Auto with the
have huge light standards throughout the project area.
created by the mine operating 24 hours. The mine will
thing I wanted to mention is the impact of light pollution
Draft EIR in regards to its 24-hour operation. The first
regarding the impact of the mine and the inadequacy of
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 our community.
in our stores. Tourism is a major economic engine within
facilities, dine in our restaurants, buy gas from us, shop
These visitors come to our community, stay in our lodging
further enhance Grass Valley as a tourist destination.
The reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine would
certainly a destination for many visiting our area.
draw and a tremendous asset for our community and
all, seeing a gold mine. The Empire Mine is a tremendous
gold mining, gold panning, where to buy gold, and most of
information on the history of our community, history of
well as many from abroad. Often these folks want
8,000 visitors a year from all over the United States, as
Downtown Grass Valley at 248 Mill Street, we see over
At the Chamber, which is located in Historic
Valley.
Commerce, and I live at 891 Morgan Ranch Drive in Grass
Mueller with the Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber of
MARY ANN MUELLER: Good evening. I am Mary Ann
--oOo--
and the lighting, that will stay there. Thank you.
able to get it back. With the air quality, the pollution
going to immensely impact that. We are not going to be
And do not forget what we have at night. The mine is
We are all here. We love this area immensely.
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 I breathed the air. I'm still here. And, really, we need
before NID. I walked in the creeks at the Memorial Park.
I drank all the water here when I was growing up
have as much problems.
today it would be more modernized and I don't think we'd
the mines in those days were working under different ways,
small compared to today. But, if you stop and think that
who lived here. Our population at that time, yes, it was
and they were really a great support to all of the people
a lot of changes. I grew up when the mines were going,
and yet I've lived here all my life, 73 years. I've seen
honestly think that I can't say that I know 12 people here
I have been looking around tonight, and I
is 14297 Wardens Court, Grass Valley.
WARDEN WILDER: I'm Warden Wilder. My address
--oOo--
forward.
economic viability of our community. Let the process move
opportunity to bring in jobs and greatly enhance the
us who love and live in this community. We have an
provide the necessary mitigation and protection for all of
for Emgold and the Idaho-Maryland Mine will certainly
agencies. I'm confident that the process that is in place
with processes put in place by federal, state and local
The Idaho-Maryland Mine and Emgold must comply
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
GOLD COUNTRY REPORTING
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25 you do not protect the interests of the people of Grass
it's not. And you are technically subject to lawsuits if
it is not so. If you look at the tax base, the benefits,
I think the evidence is very clear on the Draft EIR that
at the minimum, revenue neutral or revenue positive. And
have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure that this is,
Secondarily, you have a, as the lead agency,
the impacts to the other jurisdictions in the area.
And so I think it's necessary for the Draft EIR to address
have a serious impact on all the people of the region.
road maintenance, and that number of trucks is going to
impact the people of the region. We pay taxes for the
the county roads and also on the state highway, which also
for the EIR, but the -- it seems to also have an impact on
And I understand that you are the lead agency
EIR is inadequate.
using Highway 49. And in that regard I think the Draft
they're going to be using 174, whether they're going to be
does not describe where those trucks are going, whether
adequate at all in addressing the full impact of it. It
addresses the truck traffic, to me, does not appear to be
MARK CALHOUN: The Draft EIR, the way it
--oOo--
older people jobs. We really need it bad.
this mine to open up again and give our young people and
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Public Comments - January 6, 2009
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25 mention in their report about a discharge at 2,700 gallons
minute. Their report was based on this given. It has no
dewatering is proposed to occur at 1,200 gallons per
provided the DEIR analysis on water quality, mine
water quality report by Walker and Associates, who
For example, on page 45 of the hydrology and
inconsistencies and inaccuracies.
submitted throughout this process and the DEIR is full of
answers to the many questions that I have previously
for the DEIR," but I have not been able to sift out the
public workshops were answered with, "I don't know, wait
applicant Emgold Corporation. Questions raised at early
analysis was largely based on information provided by the
It is noted many times in the DEIR that the
Valley.

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