To Our Amazing Santa Clarita Valley Community:
Earlier this year, Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon proposed H.R. 5887, a federal bill that will bring final resolution to our long-standing issue with mining in Soledad Canyon. We are writing you today to update you on the exciting progress we have made in the past months and to let you know how you can help get H.R. 5887 passed as we prepare for the bill to take an important step in the legislative process: committee hearings.
As you are likely aware, the Soledad Canyon Mine Act will provide the Secretary of the Interior with a mechanism to cancel mining contracts in Soledad Canyon that are currently held by CEMEX USA. The bill will additionally eliminate the chance for future mining at the site by removing the Soledad Canyon mining sites from the federal mineral entry. It will fairly compensate CEMEX for the company’s investment in pursuing the development of the contracts by granting CEMEX designated federal lands near Victorville, CA. H.R. 5887 will not trade one mine for another- CEMEX has no plans to mine the property near Victorville, but has a separate agreement with the City of Victorville to sell these lands in accordance with local land use and economic development goals.
H.R. 5887 is a winning solution for all involved and we need your help to get it passed through Congress and signed into law.
KEY ELECTED LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT THE SOLEDAD CANYON MINE ACT
Thanks to a tremendous response to our previous request, our list of groups and individuals that have declared their support for HR 5887 continues to grow. So far, elected leaders from both parties and on the federal, state and local levels have lent their support to make the Soledad Canyon mine act a bi-partisan bill. Legislators and local governments that have declared support for the bill include:
- U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D- Sherman Oaks)
- California State Senator George Runner (R-17)
- California Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-37)
- California Assemblymember Cameron Smyth (R-38)
- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
- Santa Clarita City Council
- Victorville City Council
- Glendale City Council
H.R. 5887 has received equally impressive support from the air quality and environmental community. Prominent additions to the environmental/air quality section of our supporter list include organizations such as:
- The Sierra Club (with analysis of the bill by the Sierra Club’s Santa Clarita Valley and Mojave Groups as well as the Angeles Chapter)
- Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
- Coalition for Clean Air
View a complete H.R. 5887 Supporters List.
HOW YOU CAN HELP- SPEAK UP BEFORE THE FIRST COMMITTEE HEARINGS TENTATIVELY SET FOR THIS FALL
Once Congress returns to session in September, the House Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will likely schedule H.R. 5887 for a committee hearing, an important step in the legislative process.
As the bill approaches its committee hearings, it is important that individuals and organizations declare their support for the bill. Fill out an Individual or Organizational supporter form and send it in to join the coalition in support of the Soledad Canyon Mine Act.
You can also help us spread the word about these exciting recent developments by forwarding this message to friends, colleagues or members of your organization. By spreading the word about H.R. 5887, we can continue to grow our coalition of support and let Congress know that H.R. 5887 deserves their attention and expedited approval!
Thank you very much for your time and efforts. We will continue to update you as we receive news about the progress of the bill.
Sincerely,
Bob Kellar
Mayor
CEMEX Sub-Committee |
Laurene Weste
City Councilmember
CEMEX Sub-Committee |
For questions, comments, or to share your position on HR 5887, please contact:
Jaime Cheshire, Legislative Director
Office of Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
2351 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 225-1956
e-mail: jaime.cheshire@mail.house.gov
More Information
H.R. 5887 Legislation Kit
Mayor Kellar's Comments
MAYOR BOB KELLAR
SOLEDAD CANYON MINE ACT
INTRODUCTION PRESS CONFERENCE
FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008
Good morning. I appreciate the opportunity to speak on another banner day for our community. On behalf of the Santa Clarita City Council, thank you, Congressman McKeon, for your leadership in sponsoring the Soledad Canyon Mine Act.
A little over a year ago, we were fighting a mining project in Soledad Canyon. Today - through the efforts of Congressman McKeon and others -- we stand side by side with Cemex to proudly applaud the introduction of this bill.
This important piece of legislation is a "win-win-win" solution for all involved. No longer would we face the potential of mining in Soledad Canyon. Soledad Canyon would be protected as open space for generations to come. And Cemex would be able to receive fair compensation for its contracts with the Bureau of Land Management.
In crafting this bill, Congressman McKeon proved government, community groups and the private sector can work together to solve problems. By devoting his efforts to seeing this bill through Congress and onto the President"s desk, Congressman McKeon will achieve a lasting legacy for the residents of Santa Clarita.
Santa Clarita has been rated one of the best places to live in the country because quality of life has always been paramount for the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Congressman McKeon's bill will safeguard our cherished quality of life. With this bill"s passage, we will never again need to worry about the threats a sand and gravel mine would bring to our borders because with this bill"s passage, mining will never again be allowed in Soledad Canyon.
The residents of Santa Clarita have long rejected the proposed mining project in Soledad Canyon. Our community's concerns with the size of the aggregate mine, air pollution and the increased traffic the mine would bring our region resulted in a nearly decade-long disagreement with Cemex.
In February of 2007, we agreed with Cemex to call a halt to negative rhetoric so that we could work together toward finding a solution. The Soledad Canyon Mine Act is that solution.
We thank Cemex for agreeing to come to the table and work hard over the last several months on this issue. We thank the City of Victorville for its willingness to participate in this solution. Most of all, we thank Congressman McKeon, whose leadership brought us here today and whose continued commitment will see the Soledad Canyon Mine Act signed into law.
Thank you, Congressman McKeon, for this -- a winning solution for all concerned.
Download as PDF
Congressman McKeon Introduces "Win-Win" Legislative Proposal to Address Santa Clarita,
CEMEX Mining Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) today announced
that he has introduced the Soledad Canyon Mine Act (H.R. 5887), legislation that incorporates
an agreement reached by the City of Santa Clarita, Victorville, and CEMEX to settle a dispute
regarding a large-scale mine proposed to operate in Soledad Canyon.
"Years ago, I made a promise to carry legislation to resolve the mining issue between the City of Santa Clarita and CEMEX if an agreement could be reached," stated McKeon. "Today, I am pleased to report that with the help of our friends from the City of Victorville, we have reached that agreement."
McKeon's legislative proposal, introduced yesterday, would cancel two ten-year Soledad
Canyon mining contracts that CEMEX has with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
thereby ending the possibility of mining at the Soledad Canyon site.
"Santa Clarita has been rated one of the best places to live in the country and quality of life
has always been paramount here," said Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar. "Enacting this
legislation would be a major accomplishment for residents of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles
County, safeguarding our cherished quality of life and preserving open space for generations
to come."
The legislation would also fully and fairly compensate CEMEX for having its contracts with
BLM cancelled by providing the company with land near Victorville, California that is
comparable in value to the company's investment in the cancelled contracts.
"CEMEX continues to recognize the increasing need for aggregate products as California
grows and makes significant additional investments in its infrastructure," said Steve Wise,
Regional President - Pacific Region, CEMEX. "Our company is committed to fulfilling the
state's need for building materials. In the context of this longstanding dispute, we appreciate
that Congressman McKeon has crafted an equitable solution that recognizes our financial
interests and also balances the community's needs in Santa Clarita"
The agreement would also augment the City of Victorville's strong economic development
plan for their community.
"Congressman Buck McKeon has brokered a win-win agreement for all. The City of
Victorville is pleased to participate in this agreement that protects community interests and
provides for future economic development," stated Victorville Councilman Mike Rothschild.
In 1990, CEMEX leased the rights to mine Soledad Canyon for sand and gravel from the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management. The City of Santa Clarita and CEMEX announced a truce in
February 2007 and agreed to seek a legislative solution that would result in an acceptable
outcome for all parties. The Soledad Canyon Mine Act is the product of this close cooperation
and the desire for a mutually agreeable solution.
McKeon went on to say, "with all the major players on board, we have a strong team to take
this legislative proposal back to Washington and begin the uphill process of working it through
the Congress."
Download as PDF
Steve Wise, Regional President - Pacific U.S. Operations Comments
Remarks
Steve Wise, Regional President
Pacific U.S. Operations
April 25, 2008
Introduction of Soledad Canyon Mine Act
Congressman McKeon, Mayor Bob Kellar, Mayor Terry Caldwell, and other distinguished guests,
on behalf of Gilberto Perez, CEMEX U.S. President and as President of the Pacific Region for
CEMEX, I am pleased to represent my company today as Congressman McKeon announces the
introduction of the Soledad Canyon Mine Act, the purpose of which is to resolve a longstanding
dispute between the city of Santa Clarita and CEMEX over a proposed quarry in Soledad Canyon. I
would like to thank Congressman McKeon and the leadership of the Cities of Santa Clarita and
Victorville for their sincere effort and cooperation in reaching this important milestone in the
process. We believe the legislation introduced by Congressman McKeon yesterday addresses the
concerns of the City of Santa Clarita while also compensating CEMEX for the loss of its valuable
contracts with the Federal government. It will be critical that these cornerstones of the legislation
remain intact as we move thru the legislative process in both the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
The introduction of the legislation by Congressman McKeon starts us on a legislative journey that,
we hope and trust, results in this legislation becoming law before the end of this year. We look
forward to working with the Congressman and the Cities of Santa Clarita and Victorville in
achieving that important objective. We also look forward to earning the support of California's
distinguished Senators, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, as this process moves forward. We are eager
to bring this dispute to an end and are confident that this important milestone brings us closer to that
day. Thank you.
Download as PDF
Bill HR5887
A federal bill introduced by Congressman Buck McKeon that will prevent mining in Soledad Canyon.
View Bill HR5887 [PDF]
Sherman Cosponsors Soledad Canyon Mine Act
Washington, DC – Congressman Brad Sherman (Sherman Oaks) today announced his support for the Soledad Canyon Mine Act (H.R. 5887) that resolves a mining dispute between the City of Santa Clarita and CEMEX in the Santa Clarita Valley.
In April, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon introduced H.R. 5887 following a year of negotiations between the City of Santa Clarita and CEMEX to cancel two ten-year mining contracts in the Santa Clarita Valley’s Soledad Canyon. The legislation allows the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to prohibit future mining in the Soledad Canyon while compensating CEMEX for the cancelled contracts through the proceeds of the sale of surplus federal land in San Bernardino County to the city of Victorville.
Sherman recently met with Santa Clarita city officials to discuss the legislation and strongly encourage the city to gain support for the bill from the environmental community, including the Sierra Club and its local volunteer groups.
“The Soledad Canyon Mine Act will prohibit large-scale mining in Soledad Canyon that would have otherwise caused further degradation of the environment,” said Sherman. “Although there is much work ahead for final passage of the bill, Santa Clarita is well positioned to preserve this land as future open space,” added Sherman.
Sherman noted that the bill was recently endorsed by the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club.
