The San Rafael Rock Quarry (SRRQ), surrounded by several residential neighborhoods, operates a substantial mining operation at the east end of Pt. San Pedro Road (see Quarry History and Quarry Photos from 1987 to the present). Complaints about how the SRRQ was operating in the 1990s, and the County of Marin’s lax oversight as the quarry’s regulator, prompted the Coalition’s formation in 1999.
A joint lawsuit was brought in 2001 by the State of California, County of Marin, and the Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition pursuing modifications to the SRRQ’s operations. In its 2004 decision, the court determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was required. Ultimately, in 2010, the County, Coalition and SRRQ agreed to an updated mining permit that included an extensive set of operating conditions to mitigate several impacts on neighborhood residents, such as excessive dust, noise, blasting and 25-ton trucks. Additionally, the parties agreed on a new amended reclamation plan (ARP) to restore the land so that is usable after mining ceases.
This updated permit and ARP, formally approved by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in September 2010, contain the rules by which the SRRQ must operate and reclaim the site through at least 2027. The Coalition created a Quarrying Permit and ARP Summary that is shorter than the full permit document and a bit easier to read. However, the full permit is accessible from that summary page, too.
In 2013, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved an Operating Permit amendment requested by the SRRQ allowing importation of asphalt grindings to use in production of recycled asphalt on the quarry site. This activity and process had been forbidden by a 2004 court order and by the quarry’s 2010 revised operating permit. Though not opposed to asphalt recycling at an appropriate facility, the Coalition opposed the amendment as an unlawful expansion of the SRRQ operation violating state and county land use law governing “non-conforming uses.” (In 1982, the site was rezoned to residential/commercial because the SRRQ’s then owner anticipated closing down the operation and proposed a new land use. Upon rezoning, ongoing mining activity became a legal “nonconforming use” whereby the site could be used as it was at the time of the rezoning, but could not be expanded or intensified.)
In 2016, the Marin County Superior Court rejected the SRRQ’s and County’s arguments, ruled in favor of the Coalition and required the County to withdraw the approval of the permit amendment. The SRRQ appealed that decision to the First District Court of Appeal which, in a published decision, soundly rejected the Quarry’s arguments and affirmed the decision of the lower court.
In 2019 following the Court of Appeal’s decision, the SRRQ petitioned the California Supreme Court for review of the appellate court decision. The Supreme Court denied that request in June 2019. The result is that, despite its inclinations, the County is barred from allowing the SRRQ to intensify or expand the use of the quarry site.
Also, in 2019, the Quarry filed an application to extend its Operating Permit and Reclamation Plan (to clean up the site after mining) for 20 years beyond 2024. A study was required to assess whether the Quarry’s 2009 FEIR Environmental Review (FEIR) continued to be adequate or whether a new, or supplemental, environmental impact report would be required. The County’s consultant reviewed that question, and in its August 2021 report concluded that the Quarry’s application would not require additional environmental review, and recommended an addendum to the Quarry’s Final EIR. The Coalition disagreed and submitted comments urging further environmental study, mainly on four issues: the marsh restoration, air quality, Greenhouse Gas emissions, and Pt. San Pedro Road maintenance. Over 30 written comment letters were submitted, including comments by Marin Sierra Club, Marin Audubon, Point Blue, Marin Conservation League, and individual residents who live in the area. We met with the Quarry’s leadership to candidly discuss issues prior to the County Board of Supervisor hearing on the Quarry’s application. In November 2021, the San Rafael Rock Quarry obtained an extension of their operations and Reclamation Plan until 2044. The Coalition discussed concerns with Quarry leadership about the extension. The Quarry and the Coalition agreed on three specific areas for further dialogue and action, which are now ongoing:
- Wetlands: The Quarry agreed to engage an expert for a peer review on the current restoration plan that accounts for updated technology and practices. The Coalition recommended that the Quarry consider engaging Dr. Stuart Siegel, whose expertise is an excellent fit for the review. We are pleased that the Quarry has recently contracted with Dr. Siegel to perform the review.
- Air Monitoring:The Coalition expressed concerns that air monitoring may be needed from time to time when Quarry operations increase. The Quarry is amenable to developing a plan that would determine when compliant air monitoring/testing would be conducted by the County. The Coalition will be meeting with the Quarry as this plan is developed.
- Roadway Maintenance:The Pt. San Pedro Road (PSPR) roadway was repaved in 2014 with special open-graded asphalt to mitigate noise and vibration. The Coalition has asked the Quarry to provide materials to be used for maintenance of the roadway that preserve these benefits. Since the permit extension to 2044 would include an additional 20 years of truck usage on PSPR beyond the 2024 permit, the Coalition seeks assurances that the road will continue to be maintained in a manner that sufficiently accommodates the continuous passage of heavy trucks to and from the Quarry. We will continue to discuss this issue with the Quarry in 2023.
The Coalition today continues a community-based oversight role over the SRRQ to provide additional assurance that SRRQ operations are safe, and consistent with the land use constraints that apply under California law and the approved mining permit and ARP.
This section of the Coalition’s website, through the links shown on the right side of this page, contains useful information and background about the SRRQ, its operations over the past several decades and the Coalition’s efforts to ensure that the SRRQ operates within its legal constraints.
If you would like to contact the Quarry Committee with questions or comments about the SRRQ, please use the Quarry Committee Contact Form. The Coalition encourages you to register any complaints or issues you have about the SRRQ with the County and provide us a copy for tracking purposes. The County contact information can be found on the Important Contacts page.