Two Denounce, One Supports Quarry

Commissioners John Snell and John Petty renounced Liberty Quarry, and Commissioner James Porros praised it today.

The commissioners were deliberating on whether to approve mining permits and an exception to the county's noise ordinance for a quarry proposed by Granite Construction.

They will vote on the project today, commissioners said. To read more, .

The quarry will destroy a beautiful, untouched area, Snell said. "In my mind, you have an area that seems pristine and we are going to disturb it," he said. "I consider that (impact) to be significant."

Many of the studies in a county report studying the environmental impacts was flawed, said Petty.

"The assumptions made in the report were not good assumptions," he said.

The benefit would go to San Diego County, while Riverside County will pay the cost. "This is a classic environmental justice issue," he said. "You desecrate, you harm a less wealthy area to benefit a wealthier area."

The county's studies were good enough for almost every other project in the county, and they were good enough for the quarry, said Commissioner Porras.

"The study (methods) have been adequate for other cities and other projects," he said.

He also criticized the Pechanga tribe for failing to raise issues with the quarry's location sooner. "Since 2005, the tribe had the opportunity to negotiate with Granite and address this particular issue," he said.