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

(The Ozena Mine, Google Earth)

We need the continued support of everyone in Ojai to see that these past travesties do not happen again. Please send your donations to the Stop The Trucks! Coalition – c/o The Ojai Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1134, Ojai, CA, 93024, or you may also walk your contribution into the Chamber’s offices anytime during the business week, at 201 S. Signal Street -- in the Ojai Festivals building -- in downtown Ojai

(A Swader Gravel Truck passes Stop the Trucks! Chair, Michael Shapiro in front of Nordhoff, photo credit to Rob Varela & the Ventura County Star)

EXPLAINING THE BENEFITS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTBETWEEN TROESH MATERIALS, INC / DIAMOND ROCK MINE AND THE STOP THE TRUCKS! COALITION

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved the Diamond Rock Mine project (“Project”) with no trucks going south on State Highway 33, which has always been the objective of the Stop The Trucks! Coalition. However, Troesh Materials, Inc., the owner-operators of the Santa Barbara County-based Diamond Rock Mine, or its successor, could come in at any time and seek a modification of the Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) to allow trucks to go south on State Highway 33. Because such a use was analyzed in their Environmental Impact Report – albeit, inadequately -- the danger to residents of the Ojai Valley is that no further environmental analysis might ever be prepared. Therefore, the Stop The Trucks! Coalition reached a Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) to address this issue. The major benefit of our agreement is that Troesh can’t send any of their Diamond Rock Mine transport trucks to or from their Project, via Highway 33 and Ojai, at least until January 1, 2012.

If, after that date, they do decide to send trucks to and from the Diamond Rock Mine via Highway 33 and the Ojai Valley, then Troesh Materials, Inc. or its successor has to request the County to prepare a "FOCUSSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ANALYZING THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF SUCH PROJECT GENERATED TRANSPORT TRUCK TRAFFIC ON TRAFFIC, NOISE, AND SAFETY ISSUES ALONG STATE ROUTE 33, AS WELL AS AIR QUALITY IN OJAI." Additionally, and as part of this Focused EIR, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be requested to provide a highway geometric study and analysis of State Highway 33 to determine the highway’s sightlines, grade and width.

(CalTrans District 7 Director, Doug Failing)

Troesh, together with the Stop The Trucks! Coalition, shall also request that Santa Barbara County cause to be prepared a “safety study” analyzing the potential safety impacts of Project-generated trucks traveling on State Highway 33 south of the Project, to and from the 101 Freeway. Various provisions to enhance enforcement of the prohibition are also part of the Agreement, including installation of a video surveillance system at the Diamond Rock Mine. Though Santa Barbara County would not commit, at this time, that a Focused EIR would be prepared, because of the controversial nature of the project, and following a request from Troesh Materials, Inc, the project applicant, we were assured by Santa Barbara County Council that such preparation is almost certain.

(The Collapse of 33 at Wheeler Gorge. Photo credit to Maureen & Dan Smith)

In order to obtain the prohibition on trucks traveling up and down State Highway 33, as well as the commitment to ask for a Focused EIR and other protections, the Stop The Trucks! Coalition had to agree that no member of the Coalition or “any member of the public in Ojai participates in a lawsuit against Troesh Materials, Inc. and their Diamond Rock Mine, or directly or indirectly, contribute funds or cause funds to be contributed to any other legal challenge to them brought by any individual or entity.” While the Coalition can’t pretend to represent all of Ojai’s citizens, we nevertheless believe that agreeing and meeting such conditions would certainly be in Ojai’s best interest. Indeed, eliminating one source of untold numbers of huge, heavy, dangerous, diesel exhaust-spewing, double-cargo trailers filled with rock and gravel, and threatening all who drive or reside along State Highway 33 and Ojai, can only be considered a positive development, and serves as a precedent for future projects.

(Gravel Truck Flips Over After Failing to Navigate a Turn on 33)

Therefore, we strongly request that no one in Ojai contribute – directly or indirectly – to any lawsuit that likely will be brought by residents of the Cuyama Valley against the project. If such contributions are made, Troesh has the right to terminate the Agreement.

Our Agreement with Troesh Materials, Inc. – in turn – allows the Coalition to now use its resources to continue mounting a successful legal battle against the next Rock and Gravel Mine project now wishing to send hundreds of their trucks through Ojai.

(Gravel Truck Stopped in Town. Photo credit to Daly Road Graphics)

The Ozena Ranch Mine project, located here in Ventura County, is now seeking a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to expand operations that could result in countless numbers of rock and gravel trucks going right through the heart of our town. Yes – the larger battle is far from over, but it is important that we’ve gained a temporary “cease-fire” with at least the operators of the Diamond Rock Mine – only one of several rock and gravel mines located above us in the Los Padres National Forest. Remember, all these rock and gravel mine projects would love to be able to send their own truck transports right through our town, and in the process, adversely impact Ojai’s character, ambiance, safety and health, and thus degrade our local economy. The Stop The Trucks! Coalition believes this is unacceptable to our community. Indeed, the Stop The Trucks! Coalition has already invested in a comprehensive Highway Safety & Geometric Study of our own, and we don’t believe that it is possible or probable to ever re-engineer State Highway 33 to make it an adequate or appropriate venue for large-scale industrial trucking.

While the Agreement is an important milestone for the Stop The Trucks! Coalition on behalf of the Ojai Valley and the Los Padres National Forest, many more battles await us as other rock and gravel mine applications move through the process of consideration by Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. And this is why the Stop The Trucks! Coalition is counting on your continued support now, more than ever.

(Gravel Truck Exhaust Fumes Foul the Air)

Again, in order to maintain the benefits of our Agreement with Troesh Materials, Inc., we ask that you not contribute to the Cuyama community’s proposed litigation against the Diamond Rock Mine project.

Thank you.

For the Stop The Trucks! Coalition – The Executive Committee:

Michael Shapiro – Chair
Howard Smith – Co-Chair
Tim Baird – Superintendent of Ojai Unified School System
Scott Eicher – CEO – Ojai Chamber of Commerce
Stan Greene
Dale Hanson
Therese Hartman
Jeff Kuyper – Executive Director – Los Padres Forest Watch
Carol Smith – Ojai City Council