Residents, city officials oppose production hike at gravel plant

Lisa Snedeker

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

Residents in Boulder City fear a request to increase production at the Bonanza Materials Inc. mine will turn the Eldorado Valley into a dust bowl.

About 70 citizens turned out Monday for a public hearing held by the Air Pollution Control Division of the Clark County District Board of Health concerning increased mining activity near Railroad Pass at 12455 S. Highway 95.

The Henderson company's application combines the operations of Lopke Granite Products and Bob's Sands and Gravel. The request to modify the aggregate processing plant asks for an increase in production by almost five times --from 500,000 tons a year to 2,496,000 tons a year in the main plant and from 175,000 tons a year to 780,000 tons a year in the base plant -- for a total of 3,276,000 tons.

The majority of those attending the hearing work for Bonanza Materials and their livelihoods depend on the granite quarry receiving the permit to expand, said John Price, company vice president. Bonanza Materials, which primarily produces materials for ready-mix concrete, asphalt and road base, employs more than 220 people.

"We took over the existing lease last year," Price explained. "We need to increase operations to be cost effective."

Price said producing the materials locally keeps construction costs down.

"We understand that everyone would prefer an operation like this be hidden away in some distant part of the desert, unseen," he said. "However, the economics of this product and the construction industry dictate that this product be close to the market it serves."

But that market is not Boulder City, which has an ordinance limiting its growth, according to a handful of residents who spoke out against the quarry's expansion. They cited concerns ranging from potential health risks to aesthetics.

And the city backed them up.

City Manager John Sullard said the city opposes the Bonanza Materials' application to increase its production.

"We believe this increase in production to 3,276,000 tons per year will have a detrimental effect on the residents in Boulder City," he said.

Sullard added he believes the majority of residents also are opposed to the request.

One of those residents is Mary Shope, who said she was worried the proposed expansion would affect the city's quality of life.

"To increase the volume (of production) to that of about five to six times more and increase the hours of operation is totally wrong for the community," she said. "Now they want real big mining in a residential neighborhood. They weren't there first."

Shope, who also expressed concern about air quality monitoring, was not alone.

Another resident, Karen Sheppard, said she was concerned about visibility in the valley. "I'm very afraid of what this pollution source of PM10 (particulate matter measuring at least 10 microns) combined with a major pollution source of the Eldorado Valley (power plant) will do to our beautiful Eldorado Valley," she said.

While the plant is located in the county, the majority of the Eldorado Valley lies within Boulder City's limits.

Hearing Officer Donald Kwalick, the district's chief health officer, said he would accept written comment from the public through Dec. 11 and he would announce his decision by the first week in January.

If Bonanza Materials receives preliminary approval from the health district, company officials said they plan to install further pollution-control devices before stepping up production to reduce emissions to comply with air pollution control numbers.

"Bonanza Materials has a reputation in Southern Nevada of being a responsible operator and a good neighbor," Price said.

The life expectancy of the quarry, according to Price, is 15 to 20 years.