Politics & Government

State To Consider Stripping Lake Elsinore's Mining Control

The state will be in town Thursday to hear public testimony on the issues.

The State Mining and Geology Board will pay a visit to Lake Elsinore this week to discuss the future of mining in the city.

During a regularly scheduled business meeting at the at 10 a.m. Jan. 12, the Board will hold public hearings to determine whether the state will allow the city to continue overseeing mining operations in its boundaries or whether that control should be stripped.

According to documents provided by the State Mining and Geology Board (see attached), the city has not met several performance standards. Although the Board came down hard, at that time it allowed Lake Elsinore to retain its “lead agency status” over mining with the caveat that conditions improve.

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Since that May 12 public hearing, none of the performance standards set forth by the Board have been met by the city, according to Board documents. Among the standards, the Board wanted the city to conduct mine inspections and file reports in a timely manner.

Additionally, there have been , and there is question as to whether the city erred in The Board also cites the city’s “poor administration of [mining] sites that have become abandoned.”

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During Thursday’s meeting the public, city officials and mine operators will have the opportunity to weigh in on the issues. Based on discussion, the Board will have several options, including allowing the city to maintain its lead agency status over Lake Elsinore mining or to hand that control to the state.

Prior to the 10 a.m. regular business meeting/public hearings scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday, the Board will hold two committee meetings at the Cultural Center, one at 9 a.m. and the other at 9:30 a.m. Issues pertaining to directly to Lake Elsinore are not on those agendas, but the public is invited to attend and offer comments.

To view the agendas for Thursday’s meetings, click here.

 


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