Gravel plant allowed to boost production

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

The Clark County Health District sent a permit this week to Bonanza Materials that would allow three times the air pollution from its granite mine on the edge of Boulder City.

Bonanza had requested an increase in its annual production from 675,000 tons to 3.3 million tons at it granite mining operation, located in the Eldorado Valley, three miles west of urban Boulder City.

The increased operations are expected to produce 60 tons of dust a year, compared with the current 20 tons annually.

But the Health District will require the company to capture as much dust as possible, place a particulate monitor on its site that is operated by the Health District, and allow the federal Environmental Protection Agency to enforce any dust violations separate from the Health District.

Southern Nevada is already under scrutiny for failing to meet standards for dust particles, explained Michael Naylor, director of the Health District's Air Pollution Control Division.

With the conditions written into the proposed permit, this should be the cleanest gravel operation in the valley, Naylor said.

Boulder City asked the Clark County Health District to reject Bonanza's request because of the increased risk from dust.

Bonanza will have 30 days to agree to the conditions in the Health District's permit, Naylor said.

"It is still considered a non-major source of dust," Naylor said. A major source produces 70 tons a year or more under Health District regulations.

If the company accepts the permit, it will have to build and test all required pollution control equipment and enforcement measures. Then the Health District will issue an operating permit, Naylor said.

Bonanza cannot increase its gravel production without the permit. The requested operation would combine two existing plants, Lopke Granite Products and Bob's Sand and Gravel. They operate near Railroad Pass off U.S. Highway 95.

Most of Eldorado Valley is located within Boulder City. However, the plant is located outside the city's boundary in Clark County.