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Sep 5 2011 -- Oct 15 2011 Oregon Shores Seeks Again to Protect Rogue from Mining |   One of two former logging ponds at the mill site. 7/18/2000 photo from ODEQ ECSI database.
Tidewater obtained a conditional use permit for gravel mining at the “old mill” site off Jerry’s Flat Road near Gold Beach in 2009, over Oregon Shores’ objections. Last year, the company obtained a permit from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), subject to certain conditions. One of those conditions was to obtain a stormwater permit. But Tidewater began mining without obtaining this permit. DOGAMI subsequently shut down the mining operation, for this reason and because Tidewater was mining more deeply than permitted.
Late last year, Tidewater tried to obtain a new conditional use permit from Curry County. Oregon Shores again objected, and this time around both the planning commission and the Curry County commissioners agreed, denying the permit.
But Tidewater is back, and is now requesting a renewable three-year conditional use permit to mine up to 36,000 cubic yards of aggregate each year. The Curry County Planning Commission considered the request at a public hearing August 18, and the decision is awaited. (For more information, see our complete comments.)
The project has received significantly more scrutiny from state and federal agencies following Tidewater’s illegal mining at this site last year. Oregon Shores is pleased that Tidewater’s actions have prompted closer inspection by regulatory agencies. However, Oregon Shores remains concerned over the potential impact of the proposed mining on groundwater movement in the area. The site was previously used for a plywood mill, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has found hazardous substances at the site including glue waste, asbestos, waste oil, and PCBs. Oregon Shores believes that a hydrologic study is necessary to understand how Tidewater’s trench mining will impact groundwater movement towards the Rogue River and the potential for that groundwater to carry toxins from the plywood mill site to the river. Oregon Shores is also concerned about impacts to fish habitat and river flows from the mining operation.
Given Tidewater’s past failures to comply with state and local law at this site, Oregon Shores believes more information must be gathered to evaluate these impacts before any permits to mine should be issued.
Articles on topic 'Curry: Gravel Mining':
Sep 5 2011 Oregon Shores Seeks Again to Protect Rogue from Mining
May 5 2011 Efforts to Block Tidewater’s Gravel Mining Succeed
Feb 10 2011 Curry Planning Commission Turns Down Gravel Mining
Jul 28 2010 Efforts to Protect the Lower Rogue From Gravel Mining Continue
Apr 5 2010 Gravel Mining Continues to Threaten Chetco River, Rogue Estuary
Feb 15 2010 LUBA: Tidewater May Apply for Wedderburn In-stream Mining
Oct 28 2009 South Coast Rivers: Gravel Mining Continues
Jul 23 2009 Results of Hearing on Gravel Mining on Elk
Jul 21 2009 Curry County Hearing July 21 on Gravel Mining in Elk River
Jun 6 2009 Two More Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
May 28 2009 Third Hearing Scheduled on Gravel Mining near Old Mill Site
Apr 23 2009 Tidewater Requests "Interpretation" of Estuary Boundaries
Apr 1 2009 ACOE Solicits Comments on Tidewater Application on Elk River
Sep 24 2008 Two Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Sep 23 2008 New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
Aug 7 2008 Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Nov 1 2007 Chetco River Gravel Mining
Nov 1 2007 Rogue River Gravel Mining
 Contact: Phillip Johnson, Executive Director, (503) 238-4450, or EMAIL |
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