Q&A

The Ponderosa Mine site includes high quality hard basalt rock of significant sufficient quantity and quality to support regional and statewide needs to maintain roads, rail and other critical infrastructure.

Through the local and state permitting processes, the owners of the Ponderosa Mine site have committed to meet or exceed compliance with all regulatory standards, including but not limited to those pertaining to Air Quality, Noise Standards, Water Quality, Local Transportation, Big Game Habitat, Reclamation and Mitigation.

The managing owner of the Ponderosa Mine site lives in the local area and genuinely cares for the community. The following bullet points address concerns brought up by local residents and summarizes key topics associated with the site and permitting process.

The mining site cannot be seen from a single residence inside the community of Perry and can only be seen from one residence that is located on the south side of I-84.
The mining area is NOT visible from La Grande. The entire eastern ridge will be left intact, so as to protect the westerly view from the residents of La Grande.
The site will be seen from drivers along Interstate 84 for a few short seconds, but the owners have committed to screening the site as much as physically possible through the use of berms and vegetation buffering.
Once the Vegetation Plan is complete, a copy will be posted to this website.
Throughout the mining process, overburden will be planted with native grasses, shrubs and trees. Once all mining is complete, a significant reclamation project will be enacted. Soil will be spread across the lower portions of the site and replanted with vegetation beneficial to local wildlife and the series of benches located in the northerly portion of the site will be planted with vegetation that is also beneficial to local wildlife including but not limited to Raptors, Mountain Goats, Elk, and Mule Deer.
A preliminary reclamation plan will be posted on this site as soon as it is available. The preliminary plan will become final once it has DOGAMI permit approval.

Qualified Sound Experts with proficiency in mining basalt have been engaged and are working with the mining engineer to make sure all practices and equipment will remain below DEQ mandatory noise levels.
Preliminary results of the Noise Study measuring background levels indicate traffic from Interstate 84 and the trains using the existing rail line will be significantly louder than mining operations.
As noted herein above, the site will utilize an extensive berm that will not only help obscure the site and processing equipment from views along Interstate 84, but will significantly block noise or sound emissions generated from crushing equipment.
Once the final Noise Study is complete, a copy will be posted to this website.
Will there be blasting? Yes. Mining a significant rock resource such as this one will require some limited blasting that will need to occur on an infrequent basis just a few times a year.
A blasting plan that meets or exceeds all state and local requirements will be strictly adhered to.
The vast majority of blasting will be deep underground and / or with smaller charges that will not even be noticeable beyond the site perimeter. The site will utilize seismographs to monitor compliance. Past blasting that was done at the existing pit were not measurable or felt in the nearby community of Perry.
Applicant’s geologist has studied the underlying geology extensively. A typical boring sample for similar sites often utilizes two to four bore holes to estimate underlying geology. Applicant’s geologist utilized a dozen bore holes so that a more accurate modeling of underlying geology could be obtained. In doing so, it is clear that the underlying geology is separated from any connectivity with the Grande Ronde River or any well or septic systems in the broader area. The nearest well or septic system is well over one half mile from the site.

Through DOGAMI, the State of Oregon closely monitors and regulates all airborne emissions, including dust.
We are working with mining and air quality experts to develop a dust mitigation plan specific to the site that assures compliance with all local and state standards. A copy of that plan will be made available on this website as soon as it is complete. Applicant intends to utilize best management practices to keep dust to a minimum and well below the DEQ air quality permit thresholds.
Use of rail instead of haul trucks. Haul trucks are often one of the main generators of dust at a mine site. Since the proposal intends to use rail to haul processed material from the site instead of trucks, the potential for stray dust will be significantly reduced.

As noted herein above, the proposal is to utilize rail for the hauling of processed rock material from the site, thereby eliminating the use of haul trucks on the local roads.
Robbs Hill Road. It is the Applicant’s full understanding that the existing separated undercrossing of Rob Hill Road is and will remain a public right of way. Rumors that suggested there was a desire to close Robb Hill Road to the public could not be further from the truth. Applicant fully supports the continued use of Robbs Hill Road as a public right of way open to all the public to access the USFS lands to the north. Applicant recognizes the importance of good public access to publicly owned lands.
Rail Trips. The rumor that some 47 new trains will be seen using the existing rail each day as a result of the proposal is simply false. There might be an average of ten to a dozen new “cars” added to daily passing trains... but there will not be 47 new trains a day.

As noted herein above, a typical site of this size may have two to four bore holes to model the underlying geology. At considerable cost and effort, Applicant’s geologist oversaw the drilling of a dozen bore holes throughout the site allowing for a clear and accurate model of the site underlying geology and water tables.
Applicant’s geologist has concluded that the underlying geology and water tables have zero connectivity with the community of Perry or any other residence within the broader area; and the site will not have any underlying hydrogeologic connection with the Grande Ronde River.
Only commonly found naturally occurring minerals were identified throughout all of the bore holes.
Despite all evidence and professional opinions demonstrating no potential for negative interactions with ground water, Applicant has made a considerably conservative and expensive decision to keep the mining floor level completely above the water table. This decision leaves an estimated 30 million tons of valuable basalt inventory out of the application.
Stormwater: Applicant is in the processing of development a preliminary stormwater plan that will ultimately become a final stormwater and management plan administered through the DOGAMI. The plan will assure all storm related water runoff is properly collected and handled. The state approved plans will assure any ‘dirty’ water, mud or other debris will not somehow make it offsite.
As soon as this plan is complete, it will be made available on this site.

Applicant hired independent biologists with Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. to develop a Big Game Management Plan that will be adhered to as a condition of approval. A copy of the plan will be made available on this site as soon as it is in final form.
Through the aforementioned plan – Applicant is excited to present one of the most significant conservation efforts seen in modern history in the state of Oregon. Applicant has agreed to stipulate to a condition of approval that will place the entire remainder of the Ponderosa Ranch, totaling some 4725 acres into a permanent conservation easement. The plan will permanently protecting large contiguous properties that lay within the boundaries of the ODFW Elk & Mule Deer Critical Winter Range Overlay. No future sub-divisions or development! No wind towers or Powerlines. Through this plan, Applicant asserts the long-term benefits will significantly outweigh any acute impacts from the proposed site and more wildlife will benefit than be impacted.
Applicant has already implemented well over 200 acres of Habitat Mitigation work as requested by ODFW, including but not limited to vegetative enhancement and fuel reductions projects as well as the fencing of some 50 acres of wetlands to keep grazing cattle from damaging sensitive waters.
Pollinators and reclamation habitat. Residents of Perry have suggested various ideas to contribute to the Reclamation Plan including the use of pollinators and the Applicant listened. Applicant’s Vegetation Management Plan calls for the prolific planting of pollinators that will help promote the vitality of bees in the area. Pollinators will be utilized throughout the berm, the overburden area and ultimately throughout the entire site upon reclamation.
A copy of the Vegetation Management Plan will be made available on this site as soon as a draft is complete.
Applicant requests that residents of Union County and Perry engage with them on the Reclamation Project plans, to help shape the future of the mountain long after mining has been completed.

Visibility:

Noise / Blasting:

Dust:

Traffic:

Water:

Habitat

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