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Agency; Exhibit 53, Dick Ruth; Exhibit 61, peer review; Exhibit 63, Knepler; Exhibit 223, SAIF; <br />Exhibit 224, Sarah Hendrickson, MD; and Exhibit263 and 263a, S. Kimberley, MD). <br /> <br />Questions about LRAPA’s ability to adequately regulate in a consistent and timely manner <br />(Exhibit 65, DuPriest) and the long term viability of LRAPA were raised during the joint elected <br />officials’ hearing, (see Nepler, DuPriest, Bettman, and Taylor testimonies at the 12/12/06 joint <br />public hearing). In case of LRAPA’s dissolution, the Oregon Department of Environmental <br />Quality (DEQ) would be responsible for enforcing local air quality standards. The Council finds <br />that conditions of approval dependent on LRAPA’s enforcement are not satisfactory for long <br />term mitigation of a potentially hazardous source of dust proximate to an urban residential area. <br /> <br />Both Planning Commissions found unanimously that there is a conflict due to dust, and that the <br />conflict due to dust could not be minimized to a level that meets the DEQ emission standards <br />applied by LRAPA. Neither planning commission conducted further ESEE analysis because <br />none had been provided by the applicant. <br /> <br />The Eugene Planning Commission voted 3-2 that the conflict could not be minimized, and Lane <br />County Planning Commission voted 3-2 with one abstention. <br /> <br />We concur, and find that potential dust conflicts from the proposed mining of the expansion area <br />can not been minimized as required by Goal 5. <br /> <br />Flooding <br /> <br />EGR has concluded that the Delta Sand and Gravel Company method of mining will create no <br />obstructions or other physical features that could impede flood flows across the proposed <br />expansion area or (thereby) cause flooding on neighboring properties. Essentially that <br />conclusion means that flood flows should not be impeded across the proposed expansion area if <br />no fill within the floodway occurs. All mining activity proposed for the expansion area will <br />occur as excavation taking place below existing ground surfaces. Within that mining <br />methodology overburden will be removed and stockpiled in areas higher in elevation than base <br />flood elevations and/or stockpiled at locations on company property that are below existing <br />ground elevations. EGR concludes that the proposed mining methodology on the proposed <br />expansion area will not impede flood flow, reduce flood storage volume within the flood plain or <br />increase the velocity of water flowing across the proposed expansion area. EGR further <br />concludes that the proposed mining methodology completely avoids all potential flood impacts. <br /> <br />Opponents of the application argue that the existence and operation of the aquaclude (see <br />subsequent discussion and findings regarding the aquaclude) will cause flooding on adjacent <br />residential lands because groundwater will be prevented by the aquaclude from migrating from <br />those lands to the mining site during heavy rain events. EGR has addressed that argument and <br />has demonstrated, in its rebuttal materials provided during the planning commission joint public <br />hearing and deliberation, that the movement of groundwater is not connected to surface water <br />that constitutes flooding during such events. Nonetheless, in response to the opponents’ <br />argument, the applicant and EGR have provided a modified aquaclude construction that leaves <br />the top elevation of the clay-filled aquaclude one foot below the measured elevation of the <br />wetland that exists on the meandering scar, approximately six to eight feet below ground surface. <br />While continuing to impede the rate of flow of groundwater from the adjacent property to the <br />expansion area (and mining pit), the aquaclude would allow the passage of a limited amount of <br />groundwater from the adjacent property, over the clay material and into the mining area during <br />heavy rain events. That elevation will also ensure that the aquaclude has no negative impact on <br />the water level of the wetland at different times during the year. We find that EGR has provided <br />significant evidence to support it conclusion that the aquaclude will minimize potential conflicts <br />resulting from the movement of groundwater from adjacent lands to the mining area and that its <br />existence and operation will not produce flooding on adjacent lands. <br /> <br />The Eugene Planning Commission voted 3-2 that there was not a conflict due to flooding. <br />Ordinance - 21 <br /> <br />