ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

The Cuyama Valley on the on the far side of the Los Padres Mountains north of Ojai on Route 33, was identified as a new source. The Cuyama Valley watershed area straddles four separate counties: Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo.

The town and Valley of Ojai sits at the intersection of two State Roads, 33 and 150. These roads are controlled by the state, not the city or county. By definition, state roads are “designed and maintained to facilitate commerce,” by Caltrans, which is one of the world’s largest single end user of gravel.

Although it is simple and safe to travel from Cuyama east to the 5 Freeway and west to the 101 Freeway on Route 166, there was (and still is) no safe way of hauling 80,000 pounds worth rock directly south to Ventura County without going up and over the 6,000 foot mountains on Route 33.

Several years ago Caltrans set about reinforcing bridges on the 33 to support the weight of gravel haulers. What they couldn’t fix – and apparently seemed all too content to ignore - were the eighteen hairpin turns and three tunnels that are all too small for even a single gravel truck to navigate without moving into opposing traffic.

Route 33 is a scenic two lane highway through national forest lands that was built during the depression and finished in 1933 when the largest trucks were smaller than most modern SUV’s. Before the trucks started running, the number of total average daily car vehicle trips over the mountains was only around 250.

The rains of 2004-2005 (think La Conchita) that washed out both ends of Route 150 as well as the Arnaz Grade on 33 below Oak View and upper 33 near the headwaters of the Sespe, interrupted any chance of hauling gravel this way.

The quarries and asphalt plant at Riverpark closed around the same time 150 and 33 re-opened.

Although for the moment most truck traffic has been limited to 33 and the west side, that may change shortly. With development coming to Santa Paula’s Adams Canyon and a new asphalt plant being proposed there by Granite Construction Co., gravel haulage will come down from Cuyama and then through downtown Ojai, the East End and Upper Ojai along Highway 150 to reach Santa Paula. Caltrans has plans to strengthen the bridges on Ojai Avenue east of town. The agency has already designated Route 150 from Santa Paula, though Ojai as a “truck route.”

HOW MANY GRAVEL TRUCK TRIPS ARE THERE ON 150 AND 33 NOW? The official number is far smaller than numbers observed by local citizens. One estimate is several hundred—at some hours as many as one per minute.

The full impact has not yet been felt by residents of the Ojai Valley. If all pending permits are approved, somewhere between 600 - 800 gravel trucks a day, each weighing up to 80,000 lbs, could be coming through Ojai, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, That’s one truck every 3-5 minutes cruising down Route 33 or cutting through downtown Ojai on their way to Santa Paula.

The weight of a single gravel truck is the equivalent of 15 large SUV’s stack on top of each other.

WHEN DO THEY START RUNNING? As early as 2:30 AM. Some mines have restrictions on their hours, others do not. Despite 15 major trucking accidents reported over the past few years, the Ventura Planning Department inexplicably and without much public notice expanded the hours of the Ozena Mine from 7 hours a day to 20 hours.

WHAT ABOUT ROAD SAFETY? Caltrans contends that Route 150 from Ojai to Santa Paula and Route 33 through the Los Padres National Forest are safe despite overwhelming evidence otherwise. There are no runaway truck areas; shoulders are narrow or non-existent; and lanes aren’t wide enough for a single truck to stay in without crossing into opposing traffic.

In recent years there have been 15 reported major truck accidents.

Gravel trucks are too wide to pass through the narrow and low tunnels on 33 except in the middle of the road, which presents a major danger to any other vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Gravel from uncovered trucks is cracking vehicle windshield and the oversized trucks are forcing cars and cyclists off the road. Many have overturned or run other vehicles off the road as they attempt to navigate the numerous hairpin turns.

In the valley, 150 and 33 are our Main Street. It is the only concourse for the hospital, churches, shopping districts, schools, pedestrians, cyclists, horses, children, student drivers and local traffic. The County already mandates that no residence or business may do any additional construction that adds car trips to the already overloaded road.

Over 11,000 people commute to and from work on 150 and 33 everyday. Truck accidents and degradations to the road will disrupt, delay and possibly destroy for periods of time the ability of people to make a living.

In January of 2005, Ojai Valley residents, supplies, and tourists were unable to travel in or out of the area, compromising not only our safety, but our economy as well, when the Arnaz Grade collapsed.

Numerous schools lie in the direct path of trucks, putting students and families at Nordhoff, Mira Monte, the Ojai Valley School, Chaparral, Matilija and Villanova at risk of being struck. These areas are already dangerous – just months ago a student was killed in a head-on collision in front of Villanova and numerous others have been killed crossing the street in front of Nordhoff. More traffic, especially from trucks that can’t stop quickly, increases the risk of accidents and the negatively impacts the ability for students to participate in recreational activities outside. Furthermore, noise from the passage of trucks will make learning in the classroom more difficult. Individual trucks are loud, but since Ojai is a valley, noise from these trucks reverberates, multiplying the sound of each one.

WHAT ABOUT AIR QUALITY? Surrounded by mountains, with inversions in the air shed, the Ojai Valley has the worst air quality in Ventura County. The resultant pollution and dust from diesel-fueled trucks will significantly degrade the air quality of the Ojai Valley. Diesel exhaust is highly toxic and carcinogenic, especially to children. Lower air quality will disrupt the ability of children to play outside, as well as raise health concerns for all, especially the high number of senior citizens that reside here.

The Ojai Unified School District has voiced its strong opposition. Air quality is often very bad, but 800 truck trips a day may force students to remain indoors with the windows shut instead of partake in physical education, play at recess or eat lunch at outdoor tables.

Ojai has 25% more senior citizen than the average American community. Many live in mobile home parks located along the 150 and 33 corridors. Seniors, like children, are the most vulnerable to the negative affects of air pollution, particularly those with asthma. If the trucks keep coming, they will have to move, however, with the value of their home so degraded, it won’t be possible to get enough from the sale to purchase another home.

WHAT’S THE ECONOMIC IMPACT? Ojai has a recreation based tourist economy. Should the air quality decline and the noise pollution from trucks increase (among other aesthetic concerns), local businesses catering to tourists could collapse. Who would visit Ojai to get away from it all, if all they found was a valley filled with trucks? Would you bring your horse trailer on these roads? Would you buy property here? Retire here? Raise your children here? Imagine a night at the Ojai Music Festival, a day at the tennis tournament, or a round of golf played to the sounds and smells of an endless wall of gravel trucks.

Other economic concerns include the agricultural sector, which relies on clean air and water to produce specialty crops, such as Pixie tangerines and avocados. Real estate values will also be negatively impacted as sellers will have to disclose truck traffic to buyers. According to the Board of Realtors property values in the Ojai Valley have already been negatively impacted..

WHAT ABOUT NOISE? Gravel trucks use noisy jake brakes going down mountain roads. Although no one individual truck exceeds the seeming high standards for noise pollution, cumulatively they have triggered many complaints. Thousands of people reside within 100 feet of 150 and 33. Many already suffer from an inability to sleep with trucks barreling by all through the night.

WE NEED GRAVEL, IF NOT 33 , THEN HOW? Highway 166, an already-established route for heavy trucking, connects the Cuyama Valley to both the 101 Freeway to the west and the 5 Freeway to the east. Going around this way will cost gravel truck drivers no more than 45 extra minutes on the road each way.

WHO MAKES UP THE “STOP THE TRUCKS” COALITION? A diverse group including the Ojai Unified School District, the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Realtors, Forestwatch, the City of Ojai, and many private citizens. We have also received support from our County Supervisor, Steve Bennett and our State Assemblywoman, Audra Strickland.

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT DOING TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT? As previously noted both 150 and 33 are controlled by the State of California, (Caltrans) whose mandate is to facilitate commerce and travel. Ojai City officials have no authority to regulate trucking. Although mining and trucking permits are authorized by the Planning Departments in either Santa Barbara or Ventura County, they do no actual monitoring unless there are citizen complaints.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department (Ojai Police substation) and CHP have stated they do not have the manpower to monitor and control gravel trucks. They can only cite and ticket traffic violations, not permit violations.

Without oversight it appears gravel trucks are traveling through the Ojai Valley well beyond the limitations of their respective permits.

While trucks are not allowed to drive in residential zones, they are often sighted using streets such as La Luna to avoid detection during restricted hours. Many gravel trucks are operated by independent trucking companies and drivers. They are not employed by the mines. There is nothing to say that they won’t, and don’t already, write reports that they’re driving on SR 166 to Interstate 5, when in fact they have driven south on SR 33.

As currently structured, the only control is citizen complaints. Citizens are asked to report errant trucks, either on the road during black out periods, before or after hours, or on residential streets. Unfortunately it is virtually impossible for citizens to identify which truck is from which mine and who is violating what permit. By law, mitigations are supposed to be both reasonable and feasible. This is neither.

WHICH MINES ARE DISPATCHING TRUCKS? Presently most trucks traveling south from Cuyama are from the Ozena Mine in Ventura County. The Ozena Mine is owned and operated by the Virgilio Family, who also own and operate Boulevard Sales & Service, a gun dealer whose two stores in Compton and the Ojai Valley were raided and shut by Federal ATF agents for allegedly selling weapons to known felons. According to the ATF affidavit those weapons were linked to approximately two dozen murders.

In addition to permits authorized by the Ventura County planning department, Ozena allegedly also has contracts for trucking and gravel with Caltrans.

The Ozena Mine is applying to double their operations from 100 to 200 trips/day. In 2006, when Ozena’s original permit expired, Ventura County Planning Commission staff wanted to grant a new permit with a Negative Declaration (meaning there would be no impacts to the environment) instead of the normally required Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Ojai’s newly formed “Stop The Trucks” Coalition successfully demanded that Ozena complete an EIR. Ozena will continue it’s present operations until the EIR is completed and their permit goes before the VC Planning Commission.

Trucks from the following mines can also come this way without notice: TXI/Pacific Custom Materials (near Frazier Park on Lockwood Valley Road); Lima Gypsum Mine (in Ventura County, on Quatal Canyon Road); GPS (along Hwy 33 in Santa Barbara County); Mossler Rock Quarry (just north of Ojai on Hwy 33); and even possibly a couple in Kern County.

Some of these mines have permit conditions restricting the hours of truck traffic through Ojai, while others (such as GPS) do not have any restrictions on the numbers or times of trucks. It is virtually impossible to determine which trucks are coming from which mines.

The Lima Gypsum Mine is presently allowed 240 trips/day. The GPS Mine has no numerical limitations and is applying for an unlimited number of trips over the next 30 years.

The Troesh Family’s proposed Diamond Rock Mine has applied to Santa Barbara County for a 30 year permit to operate a gravel mine in the Cuyama Valley. They are asking for up to 138 trips/day with no limitation on days or hours of the day, including Saturday and Sunday. Cuyama Valley residents are also united against the Diamond Rock (DR) project because of its threat to the water table so necessary for their vineyards, ranches and farms, and it’s negative and detrimental impact on the air and quality of life. On the other side of the issue Santa Barbara County needs the gravel for the concrete to develop housing, shopping centers, schools, hospitals, roads, etc in Santa Maria.

Other as yet unnamed mines are waiting to see if these other proposals are approved before submitting new permit requests..

ACCORDING TO THE PRESS, HASN’T THE COALITION ALREADY WON ITS FIGHT? Not at all. One mine, Ozena, is now being required to submit an environmental impact report to Ventura County. This will cause a delay of several months, but nothing more. We are facing battles in Santa Barbara County over the proposed Diamond Rock Mine and in Ventura County over the renewal permit for the Ozena Mine. Ultimately the real battle will be against Caltrans and the need to bar all heavy trucking from Route 33 over the mountains. All of this costs money.

HOW MUCH IS THE “STOP THE TRUCKS” COALITION SEEKING TO RAISE AND WHY? The Ojai Valley must raise funds to pay the environmental consultants and lawyers to carry the fight and effectively stop the numerous gravel mine permits presently in the pipeline before they are granted. The coalition is comprised entirely of volunteers and presently has no paid staff.

Following the Santa Maria hearing, the “Stop the Trucks” Coalition doubled its fundraising goal to $200,000. If everyone in the Ojai Valley contributed as little as ten dollars each we would reach our goal instantly.

HOW CAN I HELP OR DONATE FUNDS? The Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce is helping the coalition collect funds. Please see our “Pledge Form” at www.ojaipost.com/stopthetrucks.shtml

HOW CAN I BE CONTACTED OR ADD MY EMAIL TO YOUR MAILING LIST? Currently the coalition does not have a central office or website as we are trying to minimize overhead costs. Those are in development. In the mean time you can write to smythe@ojai.net and we will try to direct your query to the right person.

These answers are as accurate as we can provide as of 6/9/07, and are subject to revision.