Planning Commission recommends supes approve Skyline Aggregates

Supporters and detractors of Hat Creek Construction’s proposed Skyline Aggregates project packed the Lassen County Board of Supervisor’s meeting yesterday, Tuesday, Aug. 4 as the Lassen County Planning Commission held a public hearing and approved the Environmental Impact Report, the Use Permit and the Reclamation Plan for the project, proposed by Hat Creek Construction.

The vote was 3-0 as District 4 Commissioner Toby Corder and District 2 Commissioner Carol Clark recused themselves. District 1 Commissioner Curtis Gatie, District 3 Commissioner and Chairman Mark Solomon and District 5 Commissioner Jeff Askew voted Aye.

According to the public hearing notice on the project, “The proposed project at the Skyline Aggregates site would include mining, processing and reclamation activities by Hat Creek Construction and Materials, Inc. on approximately 460 acres of a 640-acre parcel. Materials mined onsite will consist of hard rock aggregate. Aggregate mined on the site will be crushed, screened, washed and graded onsite and then used in the production of virgin aggregates, asphalt mix and ready-mix concrete. Equipment onsite will include loaders, generators, a concrete batch plant, concrete trucks, service truck, man lift, belly dump, articulated dump truck, crusher and asphalt batch plant. Wet suppression will be used when necessary to control dust caused by excavation, processing activities, and materials transport. Backup generators will be available onsite.

“The site will be mined in five phases, taking approximately 10 years per phase and 50 years total to complete. Mining operations are estimated to begin in the spring of 2027, following permit approval. The termination date will be based on demand.”

Those opposed to the project expressed concerns about the location of the mine, water use and its effects on wells located at a lower elevation to the site, noise, dust, blasting, increases in truck traffic, alterations of the landscape for generations to come, silica and questions about who would be responsible for maintaining the roads used by the heavy trucks.

Others expressed their support for the project, including contractor Mike Kirack (who said every construction project begins with aggregate), Lassen Community College President Carie Camacho and Susanville City Councilmember Curtis Bortle.

Hat Creek Construction President Perry Thompson said the site provided excellent quality aggregate and would only operate during daytime hours unless a contract required nighttime work — which he said he hated.

He said the project would provide an economic boost to Lassen County and provide good paying jobs for local residents.

He told the commission any project has negative aspects, but most of those concerns expressed by those opposed to the project have been mitigated in the EIR which took five years to complete.

Solomon said he supported the project and thought it would be good for Lassen County.

Other actions
The commission held a public hearing and unanimously approved a use permit for  an 864 square-foot pre-manufactured fiber-optic equipment shelter near the intersection of Highway 395 and the Herlong Access Road.

The commission held a public hearing and unanimously approved a use permit for an additional dwelling on a six-acre parcel on Johnstonville Drive.

Janesville truck stop
Although it was not on the agenda, several Janesville residents expressed their concerns about a possible truck stop in Janesville.