Mayor requests support for CEMEX compromise
The City of Santa Clarita is hoping local residents will endorse the long-awaited Soledad Canyon Conservation and Management Act (H.R. 4332).
When the government granted mining rights to CEMEX USA to mine in Soledad Canyon in 1990, local citizens were concerned. Unhappy with the prospect of the destruction of the wilderness range and the invasion of numerous mining trucks, the city searched for a solution to keep the land untouched.
After 20 years of fighting, a three-way partnership solution was formed where CEMEX would take 5,000 acres of land in Victorville in place of the land in Santa Clarita and would then sell the property to the City of Victorville to be used for redevelopment projects. While all three parties were satisfied with the compromise, the bill needed congressional approval. Despite being introduced by Congressman McKeon last year, the bill was never heard.
The H.R. 4332 bill is the city’s second attempt to pass the proposal, reiterating the same issues and solutions as the previous one. In order to help pass Congressman McKeon’s bill, the city is asking residents to voice their support; even residents who signed petitions to pass last year’s bill will need to resubmit their opinion.
To become a supporter click here.