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May 5 2011 -- Jun 15 2011 Efforts to Block Tidewater’s Gravel Mining Succeed |   In-stream gravel mining on the Chetco River
It isn’t known yet whether Tidewater will appeal the decision to the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals, but if it does, Oregon Shores will continue to oppose the permit and seek to protect the Rogue’s water quality.
Tidewater Contractors’ application to renew its permit to mine gravel at the “Old Mill Site” on the Rogue River had earlier been rejected by the Curry County Planning Commission. Oregon Shores, joined by the Curry Sportfishing Association, successfully opposed the gravel mining permit at the planning commission level. We argued in support of the planning commission’s permit denial before the county commissioners, again represented by Courtney Johnson, and were again successful. Johnson works with the Crag Law Center, our partners in the Coastal Law Project.
Tidewater had been found by the state’s Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) to have mined last year in ways that violated its original permit. Tidewater failed to get the required stormwater discharge permit, mined by a method not approved in the permits (digging trenches rather than shaving off the top of the gravel bar, which impacts the area a good deal more), and failed to stop work even after receiving notices demanding that they suspend operations. The company had to return the gravel it had removed and restore the site. These violations were among the grounds we cited in asking that the permit not be renewed.
The City of Gold Beach also opposed the permit, due to concerns that the mining operation could affect the city’s water supply. The intake is located near the mine site.
Tidewater also needs permits from DOGAMI and the Department of Environmental Quality, which won’t go through while the company lacks a land use permit. So for now, at least, the Rogue will remain untroubled by Tidewater.
Articles on topic 'Curry: Gravel Mining':
Sep 5 2011 Oregon Shores Seeks Again to Protect Rogue from Mining
May 5 2011 Efforts to Block Tidewater’s Gravel Mining Succeed
Feb 10 2011 Curry Planning Commission Turns Down Gravel Mining
Jul 28 2010 Efforts to Protect the Lower Rogue From Gravel Mining Continue
Apr 5 2010 Gravel Mining Continues to Threaten Chetco River, Rogue Estuary
Feb 15 2010 LUBA: Tidewater May Apply for Wedderburn In-stream Mining
Oct 28 2009 South Coast Rivers: Gravel Mining Continues
Jul 23 2009 Results of Hearing on Gravel Mining on Elk
Jul 21 2009 Curry County Hearing July 21 on Gravel Mining in Elk River
Jun 6 2009 Two More Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
May 28 2009 Third Hearing Scheduled on Gravel Mining near Old Mill Site
Apr 23 2009 Tidewater Requests "Interpretation" of Estuary Boundaries
Apr 1 2009 ACOE Solicits Comments on Tidewater Application on Elk River
Sep 24 2008 Two Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Sep 23 2008 New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
Aug 7 2008 Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Nov 1 2007 Chetco River Gravel Mining
Nov 1 2007 Rogue River Gravel Mining
 Contact: Phillip Johnson, Executive Director, (503) 238-4450, or EMAIL |
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