Statement of City Manager Ken Pulskamp on Transit Mixed Concrete Proposal

SPECIAL TO STOPTMC.ORG

From Ken Pulskamp, City Manager

 

There is a theory that’s been batted around the City and it’s called the "Every 10 year theory." That’s about when "they," those people who don’t live or work here, try to do something to us.

In 1980, "they" tried to site a toxic waste dump on top of the Santa Clara River in Sand Canyon.

In 1990, it was the world’s largest landfill that a company wanted to build in Elsmere Canyon, an unspoiled and historic canyon in Newhall.

Now, it is a huge sand and gravel mining operation by a foreign-owned company being planned in eastern Canyon Country.

Each of the previous times, local residents, through their perseverance, were able to defeat these proposals and prevent these unwanted catastrophes waiting to happen.

In 1980, just 7 years prior to cityhood, dedicated and concerned residents were able to convince the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that a toxic dump was a bad idea.

It took an equally large groundswell and even an Act of Congress to defeat the Elsmere Landfill proposal roughly 10 years later, although this beast may not be entirely dead yet.

Unfortunately, it’s going to take an even greater effort to defeat the current Transit Mixed Concrete proposal and prevent the destruction of a mountain and the assorted environmental disasters waiting to happen if this project goes through as proposed.

You can liken the Transit Mixed Concrete mining deal to the fox watching the hen house. The Federal government, who granted TMC permission to mine the site, stands to gain $26 million from the deal. I would hazard a guess that they have a vested interest in whether or not this project goes through and, they own the mineral rights beneath the property.

What, you may ask, is the difference between then and now? Well, for one, we have an active city government. During the Elsmere battle, that made all the difference to the outcome. To date, the City has already invested $2 million in the effort to prevent the Transit Mixed Concrete mega-mining project from being located in Soledad Canyon. That effort and commitment to continue the fight continues today with our City Council.

It has not gone unnoticed that when our City Council stands united on an issue, there is no stopping them! Their united front, together with the city staff, the water community, our Congressman, the Board of Supervisors, other elected officials, environmentalists and the community makes Santa Clarita unstoppable!

Our City is joined by more than 100 different entities in opposition to this project. And that’s why we’re here today. We want to let you know what is happening on this project, where we are heading and how you can be part of the solution.

I want to thank each of you who are committed in opposition to preventing this mine from being located in Soledad Canyon as proposed. We know you have a lot going on. We know how very busy you are and for you to take the time to be here today is commendable. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to making this another community Santa Clarita success story.