Opposition continues to mount against the proposed Caltrans Asphalt Plant in Delleker/ Portola, which would be built on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Wild and Scenic Feather River, in the floodplain of the river, in FEMA’s 100 year flood zone. It would be surprising if asphalt and toxic chemicals did not get washed down the river to the Graeagle area and beyond if this plant is built.
Why the alarm about this? Look at the above pic of the proposed asphalt plant site. Everything south of the tracks is part of this 20 acre site. Now look at the screenshot from a drone video taken just 6 years ago (click here to watch the whole video). At least half of the site is flooded, locations where Hat Creek proposes to place their stockpiles and wastewater ponds. Asphalt plants are some of the most toxic and disruptive industrial activities. To try and put something so impactful in such a sensitive vulnerable location on a river that provides 27 million Californians with drinking water shows a serious disconnection with reality.
If this parcel of land next to the river would be zoned today, would it be zoned heavy industrial? This land is part of the flood zone of the river and needs to be a buffer zone between industrial uses and the river, not a site for noisy, toxic, and hazardous materials.
-FRA!
Take action TODAY:
Comments are due Saturday June 10th! You have only this week, though Sat. June 10th, to read the environmental report and submit comments and opposition to the Zoning Administrator Tracey Ferguson via TimEvans@countyofplumas.com with the subject line “Hat Creek Construction Site Development Permit CEQA MND 686 Comment.” You can cc. the Plumas County Board of Supervisors (where this may end up) at public@countyofplumas.com
Call Caltrans District 2 and Tell them NOT to pollute the Feather River with their asphalt production needs and to please rule out the Delleker location for their Highway 70 repaving needs! (530) 225-3426
Call State Senator Brian Dahle and ask that he intervene to oppose this asphalt plant (916) 651-4001
Call State Assemblymember Megan Dahle and ask that she intervene to oppose the plant. 916-319-2001
We visited the proposed site of the asphalt plant on Sunday May 14th and took these photos. We observed an impacted area closer to the railroad and rich, healthy habitat in the area along the river, including frogs, nesting birds, and pollinating insects. The text screenshots below were lifted directly from the environmental document for the planned asphalt plant in Delleker. As you can see, professionals make a (rather good) living lying to the public about impacts. We refuse to be gaslit with misleading information when our own eyes clearly show the opposite. No asphalt plant on the river! Write to TraceyFerguson@countyofplumas.com and tell her we will not allow this and why. Get all your friends to do the same.
The photos below were taken by Feather River Action! on Sunday May 14th.
The Middle Fork Feather River at the planned asphalt plant site. The env. document states, “the proposed location of the asphalt plant is situated well over three meters from the Middle Fork Feather River…” Well that’s a relief — nearly ten feet!
Note “slow moving reliefs” to the right of this photo. We observed frogs in one of these ponds during our visit…
Note plentiful “nectar bearing vegetation”– nature is well on its way to reclaiming this land.
Note that Plumas County is within the highest hazard/ 2nd to highest hazard area for earthquakes, contrary to what the environmental document states above.Though the land has been damaged and dumped on, it is healing. This area should become a buffer between the river and the industrial area, and allowed to recover, not be polluted and degraded further, particularly considering the proximity to the sensitive river habitat, drinking water reservoirs, and downstream swimming, boating and recreation.
Note FEMA 100 year flood zones indicate the entire site will likely be inundated during heavy storms, carrying downriver whatever asphalt waste was leaked or dumped on the ground.
According to a public notice published May 10th, 2023, Hat Creek Construction Company, contractor for Caltrans, is planning to construct a “temporary” asphalt plant directly adjacent to the Feather Riverin Delleker, 2000 feet south (and upwind) of the Delleker residential area, and only 500 feet from homes in the Iron Horse community across the river. The operation would run from April to November, from 6am to 6pm, up to 24 hours/ day for 3 years (but probably longer) mainly to supply Caltrans with asphalt for its Highway 70 repaving project.
The project would generate at least 150 round trip truck trips per day, all crossing the railroad at an uncontrolled crossing, risking accidents and derailments, including possible oil spills directly into to the river. Even in the best case scenario, the plant would pollute the land and the river, which provides drinking water to more than 27 million Californians. If Plumas County is serious about protecting the river and the watershed, as is stated on the Feather River Tourism Association website, this plant cannot be permitted to proceed.
The Humbug Valley (including Portola) is already in federal non-attainment status for the air pollutant PM 2.5, which is increasingly being linked to asthma, respiratory diseases, even cancer and brain damage including cardiovascular damage, stroke, and dementia. With dense smoke from wood burning in the winter, and wildfire smoke in the summer and fall months already burdening the health of the population, an asphalt plant would only add to the health and environmental challenges the area faces. Portola residents report that odors from the sewage treatment plant are routinely carried into town by prevailing westerly winds. Asphalt fumes would likely travel directly into Iron Horse, Delleker and Portola for much of the year, making it impossible for residents to cool their homes by opening windows at night. Only those who can afford air conditioning would be able to keep cool during heatwaves. The noise of the operations would reverberate around the entire valley. In addition to being irritating, noise pollution is associated with heart disease, and other serious diseases. Sadly this is another case of environmental classism, forcing lower income people to bear the brunt of pollution.
The impacts of asphalt plants are well known, and Caltrans and Hat Creek should not be so irresponsible or out of touch to locate one near a residential community and directly next to the Feather River.
The site was historically Feather River floodplain land, and will one day likely revert to being a part of the river again. Given forecast higher river flows in the future, that day may come sooner that we think. All the asphalt byproducts would wash into the river, down to Lake Oroville where they would pollute agricultural water and drinking water.
Several years ago, Hat Creek purchased a 713 acre plot of land in North Portola and planned to construct a sand mine and asphalt plant but were stopped by strong community opposition including from Feather River Action! (FRA!) in 2021, and the land was purchased by local resident Linda Judge and Plumas Sierra Partners to preserve the open space and prevent the mine.
Now Hat Creek is back with an equally ill conceived plan that would harm the entire Portola area. In order to stop this plan, the public needs to get involved now to learn more about the plan and take action. See below.
What you can do:
1. Read the environmental documents and learn more about the project and its impact on the community. Go to this website, and click on “download all attachments” at the bottom of the page to download the environmental documents. Hat Creek and Caltrans are trying to get away with a “mitigated negative declaration” but this project, given its location to the protected Feather River, should be required to do a full environmental impact report (EIR) or be withdrawn.
2. Submit a comment opposing the plant to the Plumas County Planning Department, deadline June 10th, 2023. Send to TimEvans@countyofplumas.com or mail to Tracey Ferguson 555 Main Street, Quincy, CA 95971
3. Volunteer to help FRA! alert and mobilize the public in the area. We could use donations, volunteers, etc. as soon as possible Contact us for more info.
Asphalt plants are one of the most toxic industries known, and should not certainly not be located next to a protected river and residential communities.
