From the
Rio Grande Sun - By Andrew Kasper - In a precedent-setting move, state Land Commissioner Ray Powell has given the Rio Arriba County Commission regulating powers over a controversial sand and gravel mine in Velarde. But opponents of the mine fear the Commission will be hesitant to impose its new power because of a potential conflict of interest. The mine, operated by Española businessman Richard Cook, is located on state trust land and adjacent private land owned by Cook, Powell said. In years past it has been a flashpoint between local residents, the County Commission and the state Land Office, under the control of former commissioner Pat Lyons. Residents complained of diesel fumes, noise, unsafe traffic, dust and other nuisances caused by the trucks hauling the sand and gravel from the site and by the mining work itself. The mine site also came under scrutiny from state agencies, and Cook faced fines from the state Environment Department and was forced to remediate a high and unsafe wall of earth left by mining operations. Residents gathered over 400 signatures on a petition in 2007 opposing the mine, and the Commission passed a resolution in 2009 against the mine’s expansion and any further activity. But because of the mine’s location on state land, the commissioners were powerless to regulate or halt its operation.
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Rio Arriba County: controversial Velarde Mine now under county eye
From the Rio Grande Sun - By Andrew Kasper - In a precedent-setting move, state Land Commissioner Ray Powell has given the Rio Arriba County Commission regulating powers over a controversial sand and gravel mine in Velarde. But opponents of the mine fear the Commission will be hesitant to impose its new power because of a potential conflict of interest. The mine, operated by Española businessman Richard Cook, is located on state trust land and adjacent private land owned by Cook, Powell said. In years past it has been a flashpoint between local residents, the County Commission and the state Land Office, under the control of former commissioner Pat Lyons. Residents complained of diesel fumes, noise, unsafe traffic, dust and other nuisances caused by the trucks hauling the sand and gravel from the site and by the mining work itself. The mine site also came under scrutiny from state agencies, and Cook faced fines from the state Environment Department and was forced to remediate a high and unsafe wall of earth left by mining operations. Residents gathered over 400 signatures on a petition in 2007 opposing the mine, and the Commission passed a resolution in 2009 against the mine’s expansion and any further activity. But because of the mine’s location on state land, the commissioners were powerless to regulate or halt its operation. Read more
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