Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Shoot... I'll have the social media dialed in to the point where our facebook profile for this cause is the primary source of income for the club. # of hits = number of ad views = getting paid$.

I have already started coding an app that automatically leverages the proactive synergy of free, 24/7, interactive, viral branding by tweeting when you check-in at a 4square, ad-enabled, augmented reality, gps hotspot. However the company I founded today for this purpose, only accepts Bitcoin for payment, went public yesterday and will be bankrupt tomorrow.

All jokes aside... I, among many of us, can make a torch and pitchfork political cause profile. However I might not be the best at using tact to communicate our concern to the community.

Keep us informed of any dates. I'll show up for the meetings. I don't need to say anything, but I can contribute if asked, and even look very serious when quiet.

Here's an article from today's LA Times on mining and the endangered California Condor. Thought it may be helpful:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 5075.story

latimes.com

U.S. judge acts to help endangered species in California

Federal agencies are given six months to enhance protections in four Southern California national forests for 40 endangered species.

By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times

June 29, 2011

A U.S. District Court judge Tuesday ordered three federal agencies to "take all necessary measures" to better protect 40 endangered species in four national forests in Southern California.

Judge Marilyn Hall Patel's action followed a 2009 federal court decision that management plans for the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests failed to ensure that human activities not jeopardize already-imperiled plants and animals.

Patel gave the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Forest Service six months to develop and implement long-term safeguards for the 40 species, which include the California condor and California gnatcatcher. The forest managers will have to develop a comprehensive program to reduce activities threatening the survival of the few steelhead trout left in the Los Padres and Cleveland national forests.

They were also ordered to report on the impacts that suction dredge mining in the San Gabriel River has had on the Santa Ana sucker, and "explain why such mining should not be immediately halted." Suction dredge mining, which is used to separate gold from stream gravel, harms water quality by spreading silt and sand.

Concrete river channels, dams and pollution caused by urban runoff have played roles in the suckers' decline, scientists say. Today, the fish clings to existence in small, shaded stretches of the Santa Ana and San Gabriel rivers and Big Tujunga Creek.

Officials from the agencies were not immediately available for comment. Ileene Anderson, spokeswoman for the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued over the agencies' forest management plans, said, "We're ecstatic. We always felt we had a strong case, and on Tuesday, the judge agreed."

Pending development of the new protection plans, Patel ordered the U.S. Forest Service to halt construction and public access in the vicinity of Williamson Rock and Little Rock Creek Road in the Angeles National Forest, popular hiking areas that are also home to endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs and arroyo toads. Both amphibians have lost nearly all their historic habitat.

In addition, Patel closed the Cherry Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest to recreational shooting.

Kim Delfino, California program director for the Defenders of Wildlife, said, "The lesson of this ruling is this: These federal agencies can no longer get by simply saying, 'Nothing is going to happen to these species — trust us.'"

In addition to the condor and gnatcatcher, animals and plants expected to benefit from the ruling include the San Joaquin fox, Steller sea lion, Smith's blue butterfly, ash-gray Indian paintbrush and bird-footed checkerbloom.

louis.sahagun@latimes.com

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

Help Stop the Strip Mine in Sylmar.

We are CASM-SFV, Citizens Against the Strip Mine in San Fernando Valley.

Our website is www.CASM-SFV.org

Please send me your contact information (full name, address, email and phone) so we can add you to the list of residents/Southern Californians who are against this Strip Mine project. We'll also keep you posted on upcoming meetings.

Note: the owner of the property, Don Sakaida (of Sakaida & Sons) is moving this project forward and there will soon be very important meetings.

Here are some links you might find interesting:

CASM-SFV website:
www.CASM-SFV.org

NOP on Sylmar Neighborhood Council website:
http://www.sylmarneighborhoodcouncil.or ... mining.pdf

NOP on the LA County Department of Regional Planning website:
http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl ... ration.pdf

SCAQMD DEIR:
http://www.aqmd.gov/ceqa/igr/2007/april ... aMines.pdf

Story in North Valley Reporter:
http://www.northvalleyreporter.com/pdfs ... pt2011.pdf

i can hardly breath now, a good bet is aqmd!!! air quality board, or somethimg like that. rome

I'm glad they are calling it a strip mine like they used to in the 70s.

Then only fall back position I can think of if they get approval is that SHGA some how get control of the nursery and change it into an LZ and sell our current land to a developer and use the profits to Buy the LZ, Launch, and an LZ and launch in Palmdale.

I don't think it will go through. CASM describes it like an Apocalypse sci-fi movie. The Santa Anna Devil winds will bring Death, sickness, pestilence, liquefaction throughout the San Fernando Valley like the four horses of the Apocalypse

Victor Vasnetsov(1887)

DanF wrote:...Send us your contact info if you're against the Strip Mine and be notified as we fight this project.

The address is: DanF@CASM-SFV.org

NMERider wrote:

DanF wrote:...Send us your contact info if you're against the Strip Mine and be notified as we fight this project.

The address is: DanF@CASM-SFV.org

Thanks for posting that - I should have and I appreciate you doing it.

You guys/girls fly over my house up on The Summit at Mountain View - give a yell when you're ovehead heading to your LZ

The Strip Mine project has not progressed because (1) the land owner (Sakaida & Sons) has not been able to show they can access their land from the road and (2) their property may be purchased and/or will be affected by another, larger project:

The Pacoima Reservoir Sediment Removal Project

The recent wildfires burned a large portion of the area and have led to an increased inflow of sediment and debris into the Pacoima Reservoir above Sylmar. As a result, the LA County Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Flood Control District have developed a 20-year Sediment Management Strategic Plan that pursues alternatives they hope will reduce the environmental and social impacts of sediment removal.

The LA County Department of Public Works is planning to remove sediment from the Pacoima Reservoir for the next 20 years.

CASM SFV Inc. (a California corporation now applying for 501c3 non-profit status) appreciates the sediment removal is a public safety concern. Our concern is that this project has the smallest possible impact on Sylmar and the San Fernando Valley residents, schools, businesses and community.

There will be a Scoping Meeting soon during which the LA County Department of Public Works will unveil their plan to remove and relocate over 5 million cubic yards of sediment from the Pacoima Reservoir over a 5-20 year timespan.

CASM is working to educate the community (Sylmar and the San Fernando Valley) and will continue working to try and minimize the impact this project will have on the people, businesses and schools in Sylmar and the San Fernando Valley.

If you'd like to stay informed please email me at DanF@CASM-SFV.org and visit our website pages:

www.CASM-SFV.org

www.CASM-SFV.org/Sediment_Removal.html

Thanks!

The Sediment Removal webpage (above) has links to the DPW's website and proposed plans, etc.

DanF wrote:....The LA County Department of Public Works is planning to remove sediment from the Pacoima Reservoir for the next 20 years...

Here's the relevant document: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/dcon/327.pdf See page 8-44

DPW site: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/Default.aspx

If the number of trucks needed to move the sediment were 32 foot Concrete (Cement Mixers) with a capacity of 9 yards were lined up end to end in a straight line, would it fit in the continental 48 states?
answer below.

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..
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3367 miles would fit barely within the 2 most distant points.
It would not fit if the line started in Sylmar.

NMERider wrote:

DanF wrote:....The LA County Department of Public Works is planning to remove sediment from the Pacoima Reservoir for the next 20 years...

Here's the relevant document: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/dcon/327.pdf See page 8-44

DPW site: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/Default.aspx

Thanks for posting that link to the DPW's "Alternatives Analysis" (Pacoima Reservoir starts on page 44 which is number 8-44).

It's important to note that that document is old news in that the Department of Public Works is now developing a new, "Sediment Management Strategic Plan" that they will bring forward to the community as a basis of initiating the scoping process.

The DPW has put together a "Sediment Management Strategic Plan Task Force (Task Force)" consisting of regulatory agencies, cities, landfill owners and operators, water agencies, sand and gravel companies, environmental groups, and other interested parties to review the analyses and provide feedback and concurrence on the development of the Sediment Management Strategic Plan.

You'll note that there's no mention of stakeholders participating in this Task Force (but they do mention, "other interested parties") and they are including "sand and gravel companies" (including perhaps Sakaida & Sons? The company that is planning to Strip Mine the land beneath Kagel Mountain).

NMERider wrote:

DanF wrote:....The LA County Department of Public Works is planning to remove sediment from the Pacoima Reservoir for the next 20 years...

Here's the relevant document: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/dcon/327.pdf See page 8-44

DPW site: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/Default.aspx

Thanks for posting that link to the DPW's "Alternatives Analysis" (Pacoima Reservoir starts on page 44 which is number 8-44).

It's important to note that that document is old news in that the Department of Public Works is now developing a new, "Sediment Management Strategic Plan" that they will bring forward to the community as a basis of initiating the scoping process.

The DPW has put together a "Sediment Management Strategic Plan Task Force (Task Force)" consisting of regulatory agencies, cities, landfill owners and operators, water agencies, sand and gravel companies, environmental groups, and other interested parties to review the analyses and provide feedback and concurrence on the development of the Sediment Management Strategic Plan.

You'll note that there's no mention of stakeholders participating in this Task Force (but they do mention, "other interested parties") and they are including "sand and gravel companies" (including perhaps Sakaida & Sons? The company that is planning to Strip Mine the land beneath Kagel Mountain).

As of now, here's what we can expect according to information CASM SFV Inc. ("CASM") has received:


1. "Specific Project Option" (Draft Strategic Plan)

Based on the preliminary analysis of options included in the Draft Strategic Plan, the DPW has engaged consultants to further evaluate the “rough� analysis with more technical detail. The DPW is currently reviewing the analysis along with the feedback on the Draft Strategic Plan to develop a specific project option to bring forward to the community as a basis of initiating the scoping process.

When? Now (ongoing)


2. Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP)

The project option will be described in a document called an Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP). That document is a requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and will identify which elements of the project could have a potential significant effect on the environment and it will also identify, based on the amount of impacts, what the appropriate environmental document is. The DPW expects that the Initial Study will determine that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is the appropriate environmental document.

When? We anticipate that the IS/NOP will be distributed in February or March, 2013.


3. Public Scoping Meeting

After the IS/NOP is distributed, the DPW will have a public scoping meeting to discuss the specific project, as well as project options and to get feedback from stakeholders on the project and possible alternatives. The Scoping Meeting is really the starting point for refining the project scope.

When? We anticipate the scoping meeting will be held in March or April, 2013.


4. Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report)

A draft EIR will be developed based on the input during the scoping period; a public meeting and comment period will be held to further discuss the project and obtain additional public input; and comments will be incorporated in to a final EIR.

When? The EIR process is expected to take approximately one year.


5. Construction Start

The EIR will need to be finalized and the design will need to be completed. Then the DPW will advertise the project and solicit bids.

When? We understand we can expect construction to start in summer, 2015.

DanF wrote:As of now, here's what we can expect according to information CASM SFV Inc. ("CASM") has received:

Should we figure out what each of these steps consists of? Then make sure we are represented at every step to make things difficult.

Should we try to SLAPP him?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_ ... ticipation

I'm not a lawyer, but I do have standing as a club member.

Latest updates (in brief):

Strip Mine Project

The landowner, Sakaida & Son Trucking Company, has hired a consultant, Mike Carpenter, who is a local resident and also a member of the Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council (he's Treasurer). He's working to promote the Strip Mine project letting people know what a positive thing it will be on the community. (I wonder if he'd be working as a consultant for a Strip Mine project if the project was going to be in his community?). Based on Carpenter's recent work showing up at community meetings, this project is still alive.


Sediment Removal Project from Pacoima Reservoir

This project is very much alive as the LA County Department of Public Works (DPW) which manages the Pacoima Reservoir and Pacoima Dam, and their Flood Control District team, need to remove sediment from the reservoir (because they have not removed any sediment in the past 30 YEARS!). Their neglect has caused this sediment removal project to be a mega-project with up to 7.6 Million Cubic Yards of sediment to be removed over the coming years.

The key issue here is where will they put the sediment and what impact will it have on our community? The DPW has provided 6 possible scenarios on their website and one of them involves creating 2 new Sediment Dump Sites in the "North & South Canyons" below Kagel Mountain, above the Hang Glider Park. If the DPW gets their way they will dump sediment there and given the capacity of these 2 canyons, the sediment dumping will occur for at least 100 years (as a reference: May Sediment Placement Site, adjacent to Olive View Hospital in Sylmar, will be in existence for at least 80 years before it is filled to capacity).

The latest on this project is the DPW will hold Scoping Meetings as part of the CEQA and NEPA processes and at these meetings they will detail their proposed plan for sediment removal and dumping. These meetings will likely be held at Mission College and are now expected to be in April.

We will try to keep everyone informed (the DPW is responsible for outreach and notifying the community but we haven't been able to get them to commit to notifying the more than 5,000 people who have given us their information for just this purpose) as to the dates, times and locations of these meetings.

Please plan on attending these meetings and having your voices heard on this most important issue that affects everyone in Sylmar and the surrounding communities (and the SFV given the Santa Ana winds that we have blowing right past those 2 canyons).

For more information please visit: www.CASM-SFV.org

Thank you!

the A.Q.M.D. may be our best allay!! alli all (friend)e?

I have a conflict of interest having served 8 years the descendants of
Louis Vicat "1817: Louis Vicat discovers artificial cement."


Here is my opinion.

Set up 4.2 billion dollar lung trasplant fund.

Sylmar should collectivly get a commission for the transfer of mining aggregate thru our land(Sylmar) to be sold retail.
$50,000 a year for Sylmar park upgrades.

no dumping on Sakaida land as this will cause years of particular matter in the air once that can of worms is opened.

Recomendation: transfer the bare minimun to save the dam, with electricity and gravity only continuous sleucing
to lopez dam is the cleanist/cheapist method, where it will be trucked with in 10 miles to various retail outlets. Like Sun Valley.

Upgrade power lines or build converyor system. The Natural Gas Power generator in Port Hueneme is cleaner than
portable diesel.

vendors my client used:

http://www.bseind.com/testimonials.php
"13. Numerous Conveyor Systems installations"

http://www.beumergroup.com/uploads/tx_b ... _en_06.pdf
Photo of several mile conveyor system. 1st photo, Ragland Alabama.

Doug

I have a conflict of interest having served 8 years the descendants of
Louis Vicat "1817: Louis Vicat discovers artificial cement."


Here is my opinion.

Set up 4.2 billion dollar lung transplant fund.

Sylmar should collectively get a commission for the transfer of mining aggregate through our land(Sylmar) to be sold retail.
$50,000 a year for Sylmar park upgrades.

No dumping on Sakaida land as this will cause years of particulate matter in the air once that can of worms is opened.

Recommendation: transfer the bare minimum to save the dam, with electricity and gravity only continuous sluicing
to Lopez dam is the cleanest/cheapest method, where it will be trucked with in 10 miles to various retail outlets. Like Sun Valley.

Upgrade power lines or build conveyor system. The Natural Gas Power generator in Port Hueneme is cleaner than
portable diesel.

vendors my client used:

http://www.bseind.com/testimonials.php
"13. Numerous Conveyor Systems installations"

http://www.beumergroup.com/uploads/tx_b ... _en_06.pdf
Photo of several mile conveyor system. 1st photo, Ragland Alabama.

Doug(spell checked version)

Solidad Mine in Santa Clarita run by Cemex provides 285,000 tons of Aggregate per year but will be increased up to 5,000,000 tons per year
at 1100 truck trips per day.

Barbara Boxer introduced federal bill S.771 to block this and void contracts but govtrack.us prognosis gives this only a 2% chance of passing.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s771

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qtQ1jo9sPM[/youtube]

FYI: Gravel, loose, dry - 1.28 tons/cubic yard

Sakaida permit: 3,000,000 cubic yards 428,571 cubic yards/year


Reference:
Testimony of Senator Barbara Boxer
http://www.santa-clarita.com/modules/sh ... entid=8348

The Effects of the Soledad Canyon Mine on the Aggregate Industry in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pu ... 1341.0.pdf

Mineral land classification of the greater Los Angeles area
https://archive.org/details/minerallandclass1435cali

For the sediment removal if a pipeline is constructed it could be disguised by a bike path.