5.7. SR 01-25-1993
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ITEM 5.7.
COMPREHENSIVE GRAVEL MINING STUDY
TO BE CONDUCTED IN ELK RIVER
The Elk River City Council has authorized a gravel mlnlng study
within the City limits. There are approximately 2,600 acres of
land in Elk River owned or leased by 9 different gravel mining
companies. This land lies along both sides of north Highway
169.
City Staff, with the cooperation of the mlnlng companies, have
started this study, which consists of three components:
1) An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW): The
EAW will be used as a scoping document to identify
potential impacts from mining. This document will be
available at Elk River City Hall and the Public
Library beginning the week of February 8, 1993. A
meeting to gain public input on the EAW is
tentatively scheduled for the week of March 8, 1993.
Time and location of this me'eting will be published
in the Elk River Star News.
2 .
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): The EIS
will further analyze the impacts of gravel mining and
the alternatives to alleviate negative effects from
it. The time and location for meetings regarding the
EIS will be published in the Star News.
3. Planninq Study: The Planning Study will look at the
issues of future elevations of roads and gravel
mines, traffic, and land uses after mining.
The process described will be expensive, however, the mining
companies have agreed to pay for it. The City and the miners
will benefit mutually from this study.
A similar environmental process would be required for most of
the mining companies to start a new gravel mine or expand an
existing one. There is a great cost savings to the miners by
doing the environmental review jointly and sharing costs.
For the City, it makes absolute sense to consider gravel mining
comprehensively versus one pit at a time. Other cities have
developed comprehensive plans for mining areas, but typically
after the mining has taken place. Elk River has the
opportunity to develop plans and consider the impacts as a
whole, prior to the resource being depleted and the land being
negatively and irreversibly altered.
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Gravel Mining Study
January 21, 1993
Page 2
We all use products produced from gravel mines daily. Mining
produces jobs and tax revenues that are projected to last 75
years in Elk River. However, mining is still a temporary use.
Reclamation and reuse of the land involved in gravel mining is
paramount to Elk River's long range future. Proper planning is
necessary.
71
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