EA SD 3-00; CUP 13, MAP 192

EA SD 3-00; CUP 13, MAP 192

A Conditional Use Permit to allow a surface mining operation and developement of a reclamation plan in accordance with the Surface Mining Reclamation Act (SMARA) of 1975. Request is to mine two basalt knobs, in addition to developing a comprehensive reclamation plan for project site disturbance associated with mining activities. As proposed, mining would encompass 36 acres and employ open pit, drill, and blast mining techniques. Basalt aggregate would be used by U.S. Borax in conjunction with its existing operations. Mining would occur as needed and would, therefore, be intermittent over the estimated 34-year life of the project. The applicant estimates that between 50,000 to 250,000 tons of material would be removed per year. Total anticipated production of basalt and overburden/wasterock is estimated at 3 and 0.6 million tons, respectively. As proposed maximum depth of excavation would be 150 feet in Section 16 and 190 feet in Section 10. Crushing and stockpiling of aggregate would occur off site on an industrially zoned and designated parcel. As such, the crushing and stockpiling of aggregate would be permitted "by right" and is not within the scope of the discretionary request being considered. Overburden/wasterock would be hauled to areas on U.S. Borax property already permitted for overburden placement. Sewage disposal is not proposed. Water supply for dust supression would be from Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and recycled condensate from the Mojave Cogeneration Company Plant. Access would be via an unimproved road on the north side of U.S. Borax's existing borate processing ponds.

Kern

Air Resources Board, Major Industrial Projects, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 9 (DOT), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Victorville Region 6 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Water Resources, Office of Historic Preservation, Resources Agency, California Department of Conservation (DOC)

California Department of Conservation (DOC)

Industrial (Basalt Aggregate)(Acres 36), Mining (Mineral Basalt)

Use Permit

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Economics/Jobs, Fiscal Impacts, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Solid Waste, Transportation, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire, Wildlife