Quarry chief discusses neighborhood
Stevens Creek Quarry’s San Juan Bautista operation is located in
the hills above San Juan between San Juan and Aromas along the
winding and shoulderless Anzar Road, just west of U.S. 101. In the
past, some of the residents who live nearby have had problems with
tractor-trailer trucks full of sand hauling up the steep hills to
and from the quarry site.
Quarry chief discusses neighborhood
Stevens Creek Quarry’s San Juan Bautista operation is located in the hills above San Juan between San Juan and Aromas along the winding and shoulderless Anzar Road, just west of U.S. 101. In the past, some of the residents who live nearby have had problems with tractor-trailer trucks full of sand hauling up the steep hills to and from the quarry site.
Some of the neighboring residents think that Stevens Creek Quarry should be held at least partially responsible for widening the roadway. This week, The Pinnacle talked to chief executive officer of Stevens Creek Quarry, Rich Voss about his thoughts on the quarry and whether they should be held responsible for upkeep of the road.
Q: It has been said that Anzar road is beyond need of repair, since your quarry utilizes the road so frequently do you think you should be responsible for helping with repairs?
A: We have in the past done repairs and improvements on Anzar road, from our driveway to just past School Road. When we started operating the quarry eight years ago Anzar road was 16-feet wide and barely passable. We have improved the road and it currently is at least 18-feet to 22-feet wide. Every couple of years, or as necessary, we maintain the road.The road currently needs work and we will start the process as soon as the weather allows. We have not done many repairs over the last few years because we were waiting to finalize the recent permit process, which was approved in December. This process took from 18 to 24 months from the original design through the environmental analysis and application and this, why preparation, to permit approval. The current permit requires that we maintain the roads, which we have done voluntarily since starting to operate the quarry.
Q: How many trucks do you operate on that road per day; the county previously estimated 50 trucks per day, does that estimate sound right to you?
A: Because this is seasonal business we can have anywhere from 5 to 70 trucks per day.
Q: How have relations persisted between the residents of Aromas and San Juan and the quarry?
A: First of all, we are in San Juan Bautista, not Aromas. We have not heard of any issues with the residents of Aromas. Overall, our relations with neighbors are pretty good. If there is a problem we address it immediately. We don’t get many complaints here at the Quarry, but the ones we do usually resolve around trucks. SCQ does not own any trucks. Our customers contract with trucking companies to deliver their sand. When we see inappropriate activity, or hear a complaint about a trucker we talk to the driver. Depending on the issue we will suspend privileges or take further action when necessary.
Q: Do you think the quarry gets a bad rep from some of the residents in the surrounding areas?
A: From a few, but we think that we get along well with most of our neighbors. This rep predominately comes from perceptions. We appreciate our neighbors and look forward with working with them to discuss any issues that they might have. If a complaint comes in we take immediate action.
Q: What is the biggest misconception about the quarry and the work it does in the area?
A: One of the largest misconceptions is that when we are done mining we will be leaving an ugly hole. This is not the case. Every quarry operating in California must have a state mandated reclamation plan – this plan must be approved by both the county and the state Department of Conservation. It covers the plans for the final state of the property as well as financial assurances that the work will be completed. The Reclamation Plan covers condition of slopes, proper irrigation and drainage, erosion control, and land use planning. When mining is completed the site must be left in a condition that is ‘readily adaptable to alternate land uses.’
Q: In your opinion, do you feel like your company is doing everything possible to remain environmentally conscious and considerate toward your neighbors?
A: Let me start this answer with a very strong statement: We take our commitment to reducing our impact to the neighborhood very seriously. Now let me go into the details. We try very hard to minimize any impact to the neighborhood. We maintain the roads, monitor and police the trucks, keep our operating hours within our normal business timeframe and only work off hours when we absolutely need to do so. In eight years we have only been open for business less than five Saturdays. (Even though our industry often requires Saturday work). We respond to any complaints or issues immediately, and try very hard to be a good neighbor. We are monitored by numerous agencies at all levels of government to insure that we meet strict guidelines, and we do.
