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RA 9-16-81 <br /> Purviance <br /> -12- <br /> beautiful area which have a direct effect on the quality of life. He noted <br /> the problems of tearing up the Calaveras River; the location of the garbage <br /> dump which results in a huge increase in traffic from people going to the <br /> dump; lie noted the transmission lines from Rancho Seco; when Mr. Cady was <br /> alive he kept the gravel operation under control; since his demise there has <br /> been no real restraint and surveillance. Mr. Sitkin said that the gravel <br /> trucks speed in order to make more money; a report from the California High- <br /> way Patrol can verify that fact. If this application is approved, people <br /> will have a gravel truck speeding by their horses every 2� minutes. After <br /> 15 years of enduring this operation, Mr. M.erian made a new application next <br /> to Mr. Sitkin's home which they literally built inch by inch. <br /> Bob Whitaker, Licensed Agricultural Consultant, said that his job is to watch <br /> for pests. He said lie has worked with Roger Sitkin on his present ranch; <br /> he was concerned over a problem of dust and agricultural mites as a result <br /> of the excavation; this will affect production and would make it necessary <br /> to spray and this would pollute the environment. Trucks should be sprayed <br /> with water before they leave the site. <br /> Barbara Sitkin said she did not feel that the issues could be separated. <br /> She said a performance bond and the rehabilitation of the Cady property <br /> excavation site would exceed $695,000; the $700,000 worth of damage on the old <br /> site would indicate that $75 ,000 on the bond would not cover the damage. <br /> She said there will be drying up of wells ; someone will have to take the respon- <br /> sibility for that; she said enforcement of the regulations is a critical <br /> issue in this case ; she felt there was not enough staff to enforce the ordinances <br /> of the County. There are no noise ordinances ; there does riot appear to be <br /> sufficient teeth in the law to effectively control the situation. She <br /> referred to the history of the Planning Department on enforcing the existing <br /> permit; she did not feel they could enforce the new project. Mrs. Sitkin <br /> said that the operator must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the proposed <br /> use of the property is a reasonable use and that there are adequate safeguards <br /> in the permit to assure safety to the public. <br /> Regarding the quantity of trucks on Shelton Road, at the present time there <br /> appear to be 25 to 30 gravel trucks per day at the present site. The maxi- <br /> mum applied for in the new permit is 90 trucks per day. That is one truck <br /> every 2� minutes based on a 9 hour day operation. She said she did not know <br /> if this Board would be able to restrict traffic from an adjoining County; this <br /> could create a super highway. The increase in truck traffic would be signifi- <br /> cant. Regarding noise, the decibels will be somewhat over a level of 65 ; <br /> the acceptable noise level in the country is 45. The Local Health District <br /> stated they could not make that study. She wanted to know what would be <br /> considered detrimental to health. However, even without the study, it will be <br /> a real nuisance. Regarding dust conditions, the permit has not even been <br /> granted on the site and they are already starting business. She said Stockton <br /> Sand and Gravel should pave the road since they are in the road building business. <br /> The use will break down the road. She said there is no compatibility between <br /> residences and strip mining operations. lira. Sitkin said she established her <br /> residence in this area prior to this operation. <br />