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S. Barbara panel approves mine permit
Decision aggravates concerns of truck traffic
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More from Local NewsA campaign to stop gravel trucks from rumbling down Highway 33 and through the Ojai Valley lost a small skirmish this week.
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted 5-0 to conceptually approve a renewal permit for the Diamond Rock mine, which is just over the Ventura County line, said Michael Shapiro of the organization Stop the Trucks.
The one silver lining was an expression of sympathy from commissioners about traffic impacts from the mine, said Shapiro.
Most of the Diamond Rock trucks are supposed to use routes through Santa Barbara County, but there is nothing guaranteeing that, Shapiro said.
In addition, Shapiro said, if Ventura County planners reviewing plans for two other gravel mines try to route traffic through Santa Barbara County, commissioners there might retaliate by allowing Diamond Rock to use Highway 33.
"It gets back to this political rationale that completely avoids the real issue about whether the 33, with its tunnels and hairpin turns, was ever designed for this kind of traffic," said Shapiro.
Stop the Trucks was formed in response to the three large gravel-mining operations. They are clustered near each other in remote corners of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties off Highway 33.
According to the group, the cumulative impact from the three operations could mean as many as 600 big semi-trucks laden with gravel jack-braking down Highway 33.
One of the other mines, Ozena, wants to expand its existing operation. It has a permit to run about 100 trucks down the route each day.
The Diamond Mine wants to renew its permit and receive permission to run about 138 trucks a day.
The commission's decision this week sends the renewal request to the state Department of Mines for review. It's likely to go before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors within six months.
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