Lake Elsinore's Mining Concerns Studied

Surface mining in Lake Elsinore was put under the microscope for residents and the city’s planning commission during a public workshop Tuesday night.

The commissioners and a handful of local residents heard from city staff about Lake Elsinore’s more than 100-year mining history and the challenges ahead. Ken Seumalo, Lake Elsinore's director of public works, along with City Attorney Barbara Leibold, led the workshop and took questions.

City staff and the commissioners also heard from three residents who complained that, when it comes to mining operations, the city is not looking out for its citizens.

The city presently oversees several mining operations in its boundaries. The clay and aggregate mines are all situated in the city’s Alberhill District and most are owned by Pacific Clay, a subsidiary of the giant conglomerate Castle & Cooke.

While most of the mines are active, a few are not and during Tuesday’s workshop commissioners wanted reassurances from Seumalo and Leibold that all mined land will, once operations cease, be properly restored under decades-old reclamation plans.

Per the plans, mine operators are expected to reclaim the land to open space. But as commissioners Mike O’Neal and Rick Morsch pointed out, that essentially means filling in holes and little else.

Both Seumalo and Leibold said it’s impossible to know exactly what type of development might someday take place on any reclaimed land, and restoring it to open space is the least expensive option for mine operators.

Morsch pushed the issue, arguing that it may not be in the city’s best interest to pass costs on to developers who might someday be interested in building.

Chief among all the commissioners’ concerns, however, appeared to be complaints from residents about mining operations in their neighborhoods.

The Alberhill Ranch community was built atop once-mined land and the homes abut active operations. Some residents have complained to the city and state about problems, including dust, truck traffic, as well as water and soil pollution stemming from the facilities.

Mining hours-of-operation is a particularly contentious issue for the residents.

During Tuesday’s workshop, three residents complained that the city, with its oversight authority, has done little to regulate mining hours. The residents have long protested that middle-of-the-night noise, bright lights and truck traffic are keeping Alberhill Ranch awake.

“There’s got to be some kind of hours,” urged Alberhill resident Sharon Gallina. “At 2:30 a.m. it gets you right out of bed – it sounds like a jet going over.”

Alberhill resident Paulie Tehrani said most residents in the community didn’t know what they were getting into when they moved in.

“We had no clue that you’re supposed to look at homes at 3 a.m.” before deciding to buy, she said.

“The noise has got to stop,” said Lake Elsinore resident Chris Hyland, noting that while she doesn’t live in Alberhill Ranch she has friends who do.

The commissioners appeared sympathetic to the residents’ concerns.

Commissioner John Gonzalez said he’s heard similar complaints, and Commissioner Mike O’Neal offered, “These concerns need to be addressed.”

But city staff provided little reassurance that the issue will go away soon. According to Leibold, the city and its contracted mining consultant EnviroMine Inc., are exploring the issue, but “where there is a vested right to mine, the city’s ability is limited,” she said.

Leibold contends that while the city does have oversight authority, mining permits that date back decades in Lake Elsinore have been grandfathered in and therefore aren’t subject to scrutiny under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.

The matter will most certainly be up for discussion in the weeks to come. During its next regularly scheduled meeting, the planning commission is expected to consider a new mining permit application from MCA, a clay roof tile manufacturer.

Additionally, next month state mining officials are expected to visit the city and reassess whether Lake Elsinore should be allowed to retain its status as the lead agency overseeing the mines. saw state mining officials criticize the city for lax oversight of mining operations. During the hearing, the State Mining and Geology Board granted the city six months to become compliant with its responsibilities as lead agency under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.