GRAND JURY: The Board of Supervisors is monitoring
actions being taken in response to the 2008 Grand Jury Report: (1) An e-mail address and a
box in the courthouse have been designated for suggestions. (2) Six workshops have been
held with information on the Employee Assistance Program, personnel policies/agreements,
and the grievance process. (3) The CAO and data processing are working with the webmaster
to update the County’s website. I have provided input on a more inviting look for
prospective businesses and visitors. (4) The jail is exploring some remodels to increase
safety and additional cameras are planned for the visitation and lobby areas. (5) A
Financial Review Committee has been organized and will meet this month. (6) The Auditor’s
management staff has attended training on ethics and harassment prevention. (7) The County
dress code policy has been discussed with Department Heads. (8) The Planning Department
conducted a comprehensive field investigation to document concerns of community members
regarding the operation of JH Ranch and to identify the potential impacts on the
neighborhood. County Planning filed a Public Nuisance Case with the District Attorney’s
office on November 14. In addition, other remedies are being explored.
We commend and thank those who serve on our Grand Juries for their
invaluable service.
SURFACE MINING AND
RECLAMATION ACT (SMARA): Siskiyou County has had oversight of the local SMARA program
since the 1970s, regulating gravel and hard rock (not suction dredge) mines. There are
currently 41 active mines in the county. Many of these provide gravel for local roadwork.
In response to citizen complaints about a couple of operations, the State Mining and
Geology Board (SMGB) considered a 45 day notice of intent to take over the SMARA program.
SMGB audited the County program and determined that the quality of
inspections was very poor. There was a lack of compliance with Interim Management Plans; a
failure to require and approve annual Financial Assurance cost estimates; a lack of
consistent mine inspections; and inconsistent training of the County staff. Loss of
control to the State would have made mining prohibitively expensive and could have made
road maintenance difficult. In July of last year, the County was given the opportunity to
improve its SMARA program.
During the rest of 2008, 33 mines were inspected and reports issued
to the State. The remaining mines will be inspected this year. The County’s
Environmental Health Division is now doing the inspections with the assistance of and
training by a consultant The audit found only a five percent compliance with Financial
Assurances for post mining reclamation. Working cooperatively with the miners, a 70
percent compliance was achieved voluntarily. As a group, the miners have been very
supportive of implementing a tighter ship. Notices of Violation are being filed on those
mines out of compliance. Enforcement action is being taken on three mines.
Last week the SMGB reviewed the County’s progress. They
recognized that significant progress had been made in a short time. The Board voted
unanimously that the County was honoring its commitment and determined that no further
monitoring would be necessary. Two local mines appealed a decision to SMGB denying them a
“low gross” fee exemption. The mines were out of compliance with SMARA
requirements and were therefore denied the exemption and the appeal, costing them an
additional four thousand dollars in fees.
KLAMATH DAM DECOMMISIONING:
A July 2008 report from CDM (Camp, Dresser & McKee) on the “Potential Liability
Associated with the Decommissioning and Removal of Four Hydroelectric Dams on the Klamath
River” has just recently been sent to Siskiyou County by the Department of Interior.
The report details an estimated potential of $836 million in costs associated with dam
removal. This includes about a $4.6 loss of recreational opportunities; a $66 million loss of regional fisheries; an $11 million loss in property values; a $172
million loss and replacement costs for renewable energy; about $53 million in reservoir
restoration; and about $351 million in sediment management – without consideration of
any treatment for toxic materials such as dioxin.
Theses are all items for which Siskiyou County has unsuccessfully
sought mitigation provisions in the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and Agreement in
Principal (AIP.) This begs the question whether costs are being kept low by sticking Siskiyou
County and its residents with the tab.
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