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Mitigating Biological Impacts: On-Site vs. Off-Site

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Written by Travis Jokerst.

Anyone who has ever tried to develop undisturbed land knows they will be faced with a requirement to mitigate for biological impacts caused by the development. In most cases, the project proponent (applicant) is given the option to mitigate those impacts either on-site or off-site. Off-site mitigation typically involves purchasing credits from an approved mitigation bank. The local, state, or federal agencies might even require using a bank that is in the same ecological region as the development site.

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NSSGA Award Season Opens to Recognize Aggregate Innovators

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Written by Alyssa Burley.

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) is preparing to recognize the nation’s top aggregate operators.

“NSSGA offers a variety of company and individual recognitions to highlight the industry’s best practices and innovative companies, who operate safely, engage their communities and are stewards of the environment. The association will also award individual honors to recognize operations and industry professionals for their contributions to the stone, sand and gravel industry as a whole,” according the organization’s website.

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The Modernization of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act: Is it Necessary?

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Written by Crystal Howard.

Mining is an essential part of California’s economy and history. The state’s mineral wealth was responsible for its rapid growth and continued development. Regulation of the state’s mining industry began in 1975 with the adoption of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA). A number of amendments have strengthened its protections, but increased regulatory burdens have raised the bar for access to all but the largest producers.

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How Mining Made California

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Written by Crystal Howard

Mining has been an important part of California’s economy and history for generations. The California Gold Rush propelled San Francisco from a 200-resident settlement in 1846 to a boomtown of about 36,000 by 1852. As a result, California became the center of global imagination and a desirable destination for hundreds of thousands of people. From an economy that was too small to measure before the Gold Rush, California is now the eighth ranking economy in the world and mining has been there to support its growth from the beginning.

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San Diego County’s Recommended Budget Sets Expectation For Future Transportation and Infrastructure Spending

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Written by Alyssa Burley.

San Diego County’s Fiscal Year 2015-2016 recommended budget was introduced on May 5, 2015 to the Board of Supervisors by Chief Administrative Office Helen Robbins-Meyers.

According to the San Diego County News Center, within the budget, $58.7 million is allocated towards transportation and infrastructure projects:

  • $24 million – Maintaining Roads
  • $13.3 million – Road Reconstruction and Improvements
  • $1.3 million – New Sidewalks and Pathways
  • $1.8 million – Traffic Signal Improvements
  • $6.6 million – Intersection Improvements
  • $3.2 million – Drainage Improvements
  • $8.5 million – Ensure County Bridges Remain Structurally Sound and Safe

This means the region will need to ensure local construction aggregates supplies are available for these projects.

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San Diego Regional Plan Requires Substantial Construction Aggregate Resources

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Written by Alyssa Burley.

On April 24, 2015, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) released its draft San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan (Draft Regional Plan) for public comment. The Draft Regional Plan combines the Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) adopted in July 2004 with the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) adopted in October 2011, into one comprehensive document.

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San Diego Debates Minimum Wage Increases

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At a recent Leaders of Change luncheon hosted by The North San Diego Chamber and partnered with the San Diego Regional EDC, San Diego County Taxpayer Association, San Diego Workforce Partnership® and KPBS, the minimum wage debate continued. The panel discussed the impact a minimum wage increase would have on San Diego’s economy. The event was held on October 7, 2014 at Sony Electronics, Inc. in Rancho Bernardo.

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City of San Diego Offers Real-Time Online Permit Tracking

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The Development Services Department (DSD) of the City of San Diego recently launched its new web-based Project Tracking System (PTS). The public’s online portal to this system is called OpenDSD.

According to the City’s website, it “is committed to serving the public and improving how information is provided to its citizens.”

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Assembly Bill 2355: Recycled Aggregate

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Assembly Bill 2355 (Levine) encourages local agencies to adopt standards for recycled materials. The Bill was approved by Governor Brown on September 26, 2014.

AB 2355 requires, by January 1, 2017, local agencies with jurisdiction over streets or highways to either a) adopt the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) standards for recycled paving, base, sub-base and previous backfill materials, or b) publically discuss why they are not being adopted.