Edition:
June 27, 2008
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Reporter
Since the beginning, the issues of dust and air quality have been among the foremost concerns of Canyon Lake residents over the Goetz Hill project proposed by Sky Blue Investments. While Sky Blue has maintained it is a mass grading project, Concerned Citizens of Canyon Lake believe it to be a surface mining operation, contending that the excavation of so much material qualifies it as such and citing a letter submitted by the Riverside County Planning Department Transportation and Land Management Agency in response to their review of the EIR. That letter states the project is “for all intents and purposes a surface mining operation.”
The dangers of surface mining activities, say Concerned Citizens based on their research, include exposure to silica dust and the possible development of the disease silicosis among residents.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), silicosis is a “preventable occupational lung disease caused by inhaling dust containing crystalline silica,” and indicates the disease is associated with work in mining, quarrying, tunneling, sandblasting, masonry, foundry work, glass manufacture, ceramic and pottery production, cement and concrete production and work with certain material in dental labs. Silicosis occurs when the inhalation of fine, sharp particles of sand, sandstone or quartz erodes the lining of the lungs, making those with the disease vulnerable to pneumonia and tuberculosis. Patients are also unable to transmit sufficient amounts of oxygen to the blood stream.
California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA) defines surface mining operations as the process ‘”involved in the mining of mineral on mined land by removing overburden (rock, soil or other materials that lie above or between natural mineral deposits) and mining directly from the mineral deposits, open-pit mining of minerals naturally exposed, mining by auger method, dredging and quarrying, or surface work incident to an underground mine.”
During his recent presentation to the POA Board, Dave Carlton of Sky Blue responded to the surface mining issue, explaining that, since there was no site plan included with the investors’ initial submittal, the county could only conclude it was such an operation. But, if development is indicated, as it will be in the new application, then that definition of mining does not apply.
By definition, SMARA excludes “onsite excavation and onsite earthmoving activities that are an integral and necessary part of a construction project and are undertaken to prepare a site for construction of structures, landscaping or other land improvements associated with structures.”
During the recent POA Board meeting, Nancy Horton of Concerned Citizens of Canyon Lake, speaking from the podium, also made a presentation that addressed the issue of air quality and laid out the possible dangers of silica dust, including silicosis, cancer and death, based on information obtained from the group's research on the subject. Young children and those with respiratory problems would be affected the most, she said, though anyone could develop problems as a result of inhaling silica dust.
Dave, in response, countered that 95 to 98 percent of the material to be removed from the project consists of decomposed granite, or DG, which is best described as “dirty sand,” and that the dust referred to only occurs when the material is ground to a fine powder. He also explained that the AQMD requires grading sites to be watered down to limit dust and will not tolerate the migration of dust from any grading site, with fines and penalties the result of non-compliance.
“Go to the beach and throw a handful of sand up. How far does it go? Then throw up a handful of wet sand – what happens?” he asked, adding that the committee is using “scare tactics” to convolute the issue and create misconceptions.
OSHA, which deals strictly with occupational safety, does recognize the dangers of working in environments where crystalline silica is used or produced. A basic component of soil, granite, sand and other minerals, crystalline silica is created when objects that contain it are chipped, cut or ground; crystalline silica is, in turn, used in sandblasting activities. OSHA states there is a potential danger only when crystalline silica particles are in the air and that, since silica is abundant in natural resources, there may be materials on the job site that contain silica. But if the operations on those materials do not generate dust, there is “little chance of inhaling silica.” Grading is not specifically listed by OSHA as an activity likely to result in the creation of crystalline silica.
To protect against exposure to crystalline silica, OSHA recommends, in the case of sandblasting, replacing it with a comparable, safer substitute. In cases where it cannot be replaced, or if it is being produced on a job site by grinding, chipping or cutting, the engineering control most recommended is watering down the dust. Personal protective equipment, such as respirators or masks, are considered by OSHA to be “a good option as a temporary control – the last choice as a permanent control” and should only be used when dust controls cannot keep dust levels below the recommended exposure level. OSHA has an established permissible exposure limit (PEL) for the maximum amount of crystalline silica to which workers may be exposed to during an eight-hour shift.
Nancy says she believes there simply is no mitigation for dust and that the community will be forced to deal with a dangerous material that will accumulate on all exposed surfaces, from cars and outdoor furnishings to trees, bushes, plants and grass, including the Golf Course.
A teacher for the past 44 years, Nancy says her biggest concern is children living in Canyon Lake as well as those attending the two area elementary schools, where she believes they could be exposed to silica dust while playing outdoors. She also fears for the elderly and those with chronic breathing problems, especially those living in the Fairway Estates. Nancy also explained that, since silica dust becomes dangerous when airborne, the simple act of cleaning it off of objects would create additional exposure.
Both Sky Blue Investments and Concerned Citizens of Canyon Lake have reached out to residents, inviting them to contact them for additional information, to answer any questions or to provide their input. Sky Blue can be reached at 244-4442 or via e-mail at SkyBlueInvest@aol.com, while Nancy Horton and Barry Talbot, who head up the Concerned Citizens of Canyon Lake, can be reached at 246-2928 and 244-8231, respectively. Both groups have promised to continue to hold informational meetings open to the public on the Goetz Hill project, with Sky Blue planning its next for mid-July. Dates for all meetings will be made available in The Friday Flyer.
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