Response to SD Union-Tribune article by Eric Pisor

Lack of permitted aggregate in San Diego County? Does this justify quarries in unacceptable locations? Liberty Quarry affects 300,000 people in surrounding communities. There are other options!

A Canadian company providing top-quality aggregate, already pre-certified by CalTrans, is Polaris Minerals. They ship by barge to several ports along the California coast, now to Long Beach. Why not San Diego?

Recently they entered into a long-term alliance with CEMEX, who transports their aggregate. CEMEX has port space in San Diego. Connect the dots!

Polaris can ship aggregate 1,000 miles by water for the same cost as 25 miles by truck. There is no down side! No environmental impacts!

A Port Authority representative stated, “If it makes sense moving cargo via water, then we consider it to be a viable option for that operation.”

Karrie Reuther (Granite) said, “People don’t understand the ‘scope’ of the project.” Truth is, we understand perfectly.

We understand a 75-year open pit mine, one mile wide, 1,000 feet deep, operating 20 to 24 hours a day, six days a week.

We understand traffic impacts from 1,600 truck trips a day on I-15 from Rainbow Valley Boulevard.

We understand diesel exhaust and soot pollution, blasting, crystalline silica dust invading children’s lungs.

We understand our communities becoming “industrial areas,” good for nothing but more of the same.

We understand destroying an ecological reserve that has existed in harmony for over 45 years where the quarry site sits.

Most of all, we understand the “big bucks” Granite will receive at the expense of our quality of life.

Jerri Aganda