Tag Archives: The Last River

Liberty Quarry

Granite Construction Purchases Ethics Awards

Granite Construction Named to Ethisphere’s 2011 “World’s Most Ethical Companies” For 2nd Year in a Row

Award Recognizes Exceptional Ethical Leadership Actively Upheld within Various Industries

WATSONVILLE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE: GVA) announced today that it has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Out of a record number of nominations for the award, Granite secured a hard-earned spot on the list by going the extra mile and implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company’s success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.

“Granite places a strong value on corporate responsibility. Being named to Ethisphere’s 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies list is a testament to the solid foundation we have in place,” said James H. Roberts, Granite President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to sharing an unwavering dedication to the highest ethical standards from employees at every level of our organization….
( click to read full article at Granite Construction’s website)

Given Granite Construction Corporation’s actions in Temecula, their pay-the-fine-admit-no-fault (see below) policies and their often disingenuous re-interpretation of reality, it was with great interest that I discovered the following article – and the fact that Granite pays for their award either directly to Ehisphere (a for profit company) or one of its affiliates.

It’s All Good

Beware of corporate consulting firms offering awards for corporate ethics.

By Will Evans

Sometime in the next week or so, something called the Ethisphere Institute is scheduled to announce this year’s list of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies.” If past years are any indication, the winners will have their press releases ready to go, and news outlets across the country will eat it up. There’s just one hitch: These ethics awards—let’s call them the Ethies—may have ethics issues of their own. (click to read full article)

Here are some of the fines Granite has paid – yet admitted no wrong-doing:

State of NEVADA – Air Resources (click)

09/22/1993     $3,500.00    #1040                  HUMBOLDT
01/22/1998     $12,000.00   #1270                  LYON
03/25/1998     $8,000.00     #1301,1302,1303  LYON
09/24/1998     $30,000.00   #1334& #1335      ELKO
12/16/1999     $9,670.00     #1386                  MINERAL
04/20/2000     $6,785.00     #1424& 1425       CARSON CITY
08/22/2000     $15,300.00   #1441,1442,1443  CARSON CITY

Air violations raise questions about Granite Construction Quarry Aggregate Research.com

Stimulus funds aiding companies accused of fraud, pollution – California Watch

Granite Construction maintains that the cited safety standard is “too vague and ambiguous…”  $60.00 fine.  Who paid for all the fees?  The taxpayers?  Another subsidy for Granite due to the old-boy network of ethics?

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to Pay Nearly $1 Million for Alleged Clean Water Act Violations: Granite Construction pays $250,000

OSHA – Fatal Bridge Fall – Granite Construction Corp. pays $240,000

Agency cites Granite Construction for 40 of 61 violations regarding discharges into Yaquina River and its tributaries from June 2006 through May 2007    $240,000

Granite Pays (reimburses?) San Diego $400,000 for “possible” overcharging and billing
for work that was not done.  Admits no wrong-doing.

Granite Construction to pay $1.1M of $4.6M settlement with government over minority contracts

Earth, Sacred Sites

Et Tu, KPBS? “Casino Money Goes To Protecting Indian Sacred Sites”

BY ALISON ST JOHN
September 2, 2011
The article on the KPBS website may be read in full here

I admit to being upset by the article referenced above.
So much so that I wrote the following – which KPBS has elected to leave visible.
————————————————

Great headline! Maybe the author could work in, “Granite Construction Corporation receives $29 Million Dollars of Federal stimulus money for work on roads within the Navajo Reservation and uses $10 million to destroy sites sacred to the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

Or a fact or two about the project:

The quarry would be a mile and a half long and as deep as the Empire State Building is tall. It would be one of the largest gravel pits in the nation. Blasting would occur every day that the quarry is open (six days) and operation would be from 7 am until 10 pm. Deforested areas visible from the highway (due to loss of ground water) would be painted green.

A note about the involvement of local government:

The communities surrounding the site selected by Granite Construction Corporation have been fighting the proposed quarry since at least 2005. Documentation to this effect is available to the public via PDF of the Temecula City Council. Over 40,000 residents, 500 local businesses, and 140 area physicians have signed petitions protesting the proposed quarry.

On March 8, 2011 the City Council of the City of Temecula passed Resolution No. 11 opposing the Liberty Quarry project after spending $784,000 to annex properties and analyze/debunk Lilburn’s EIR paid for by Granite Construction Corporation. Lilburn’s motto of “Getting to Yes” gives insight into their methodology.

It was only after the failure of local communities and local government to stop Granite Construction’s plans that the Native American community became involved. Now both Native and non-Native Americans are doing their utmost to prevent the project.

On Wednesday August 31, 2011, the Riverside Planning Commission voted to deny the project as the benefits of the project did not outweigh the risks.

And a closing thought:

Why KPBS has chosen to malign the efforts of concerned communities surrounding the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill and proposed Liberty Quarry with a borderline racist slant is beyond my comprehension.

The Liberty Quarry project would destroy the LAST wild river and LAST coastal wildlife corridor in Southern California. The fact that it contains sites which are sacred to people who have inhabited those lands for 10,000 years is axiomatic and I respect that.  Native American beliefs and customs are different than those of my Christian heritage; but possibly not all that dissimilar from my forefathers belief system.  Here is something else which I understand: All Creation is Divine.

Mr. John Petty (3rd District Planning Commissioner) raised an interesting topic at Wednesday’s meeting regarding Riverside County’s outdated permitting process. I trust that this is something which will be pursued.  Regardless it is time to re-examine our treatment of “undeveloped land.”  The negative effects of eighteenth century attitudes toward our vanishing natural world is impacting us all and not in a good way.  It is time for a change based on facts: not the weight of a financial juggernaut.

http://sacredskysacredearth.com/ab-742/

A 1,000 residents of Temecula gathered to make their voice heard
A Message to Elected Officials and Granite Construction Corporation
Earth, Petition, Sacred Sites

SUPPORT AB 742 and STOP Liberty Quarry

You are reading this because you are family, friend, fan, or interested in the Sacred Sky Sacred Earth series of events. As such a person you are a vital part of that work.

Until recently, postings have always been to let you know about an upcoming event or exhibition.

This one is different. Today I am asking you to join a growing number of concerned individuals to help prevent the erasure of a site sacred to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the destruction of Southern California’s LAST wild river and LAST coastal wildlife corridor, and more.

Please click through this link to show your support of the bi-partisan bill AB 742 which has been drafted to specifically prevent Granite Construction Corporation’s Liberty Quarry project.

Copies of the petition will be sent to elected officials concerned with this bill on the local and state level including the Board of Supervisors, Members of the Senate, and Congress and eventually to Governor Jerry Brown.

The bi-partisan legislation which is specific to defeating the attack on the land in question may be read here.   The City of Temecula has been fighting Granite Construction Corporation over the intended Liberty Quarry since 2005.   A Granite Construction Corporation spokesperson recently said that they had spent close to $10 million dollars on the project (without purchasing land or breaking ground) to date.  Another article indicated that Granite Construction Corporation had recently hired high-profile lobbying and PR firms in Sacramento.

There is little doubt that Granite Construction Corporation  is seeking to force itself on the community and is preparing a new strategy even now.

Granite Construction’s current official press release regarding AB 742 is at this link  with the spin that their most recent hire KP Public Affairs (Ka-Pow.com) is creating.

KP Public Affairs The Experts at Winning
KP Public Affairs The Experts at Winning

I ask that you click on the petition to signal your awareness of these issues and to support this bill to elected representatives. I have been told that they log every call, every fax, every email, both for and against this issue.

Together I believe we can speak for the living land and prevent its death.

Thank you,

Peter Terezakis
San Diego, California
August 31, 2011

STOP Liberty Quarry SAVE Sacred Sites and the LAST Wild River in Southern California
Support AB 742 STOP LIBERTY QUARRY

Video of the Santa Margarita River flowing through the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (January 2005).
Granite Construction would destroy Southern California's Last Wild River for profit

Earth

Lies, Half-Truths, and Deliberate Obfuscations of Reality

“​CalChamber-Opposed Bill Removes Local Control of Land Use Permitting Authority”
-Amy Mmagu CalChamber Policy Staff

In addition to jeopardizing jobs, AB 742 inappropriately circumvents local land use decisions.  This project, now in the sixth year of its permitting process, has a final environmental impact report and is being reviewed by the Riverside County Planning Commission. The project is expected to go to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors before the end of 2011.

CalChamber-Opposed Bill Removes Local Control of Land Use Permitting Authority

____________

1/2 Truth:   “….jeopardizing jobs….” – No quarry, no quarry jobs to lose.   In fact, the jobs that would be lost would be those from businesses having to leave the community – including those dependent on water.

? :  “circumvents local land use decisions” – the community and City of Temecula have been trying to keep the quarry out since 2005.  If city government is local government, could it be that Granite Construction, their PR firms and lobbyists are not telling the truth?

Obfuscation of Reality:  “….sixth year of permitting process….”  See above.  Granite keeps trying and the City keeps saying “NO”

Mega-Deliberate Obfuscation of Reality:  “[Granite Construction Corporation] ….has a final environmental impact report….”   The City of Temecula spent over a quarter of a million dollars to hire experts to debunk Granite Construction Corporation’s EIR.

Photo by Steve Evans
Santa Margarita River would be destroyed by Liberty Quarry
Sacred Sites

Granite Construction’s newest hire: “KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS: THE EXPERTS AT WINNING”

According to Granite Construction operations manager Gary Johnson, Granite Construction has spent $10 million dollars to date on their intended Liberty Quarry project.   Their goal is to create one of the largest open pit gravel mining operations in the United States, less than a mile from the City of Temecula, on land sacred to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, at the source of the last wild river, and the last wildlife corridor in Southern California.  If you think this is a bad idea fraught with even more objections, you are not alone.

Not satisfied with the “NO” from over 30,000 signatures from residents, 159 area physicians, 467 local businesses, and now a pending bi-partisan article of legislation (AB 742) written to block this specific project from erasing a sacred site,

A 1,000 residents of Temecula gathered to make their voice heard
A Message to Elected Officials and Granite Construction Corporation

Granite Construction continues to seek to have over six years of documented “NO QUARRY” reinterpreted as “Yes.”

To accomplish this end, they have  recently hired the largest and most powerful public relations firm in Sacramento KP Public Affairs (KA-POW.com) to prevent the city of Temecula and its residents from preserving their land.

Within polite societies in most parts of the world, young adults are taught that when it comes to dating, “NO” means “NO.”  Could it be that an 89 year-old corporation may need to update its ethics?  What part of “NO” does Granite Construction not understand when it comes to courting Mother Earth?

Granite Construction has hired Ka-Pow.com to re-engineer “NO” to , “YES, please!.”  As of today all those opposed to the intended taking of the land by force of finance need to redouble their efforts to prevent this action.

The Truth Will Be Modified?
Granite Construction hires Ka-POW public relations

Specialized Regulatory Practice
Successfully addressing California’s regulatory activism requires a comprehensive knowledge of the issues as well as the political experience to impact the rulemaking process.

"For the last 20 years, KP has been involved in nearly every major environmental law and regulatory effort,"

“California has created the most stringent environmental regulations in the world. For the last 20 years, KP has been involved in nearly every major environmental law and regulatory effort, including AB 32 implementation and greenhouse gas regulations, California’s Green Chemistry Initiative and “Safer Substitutes” regulations, Brownfield and site cleanup standards, storm water policy and regulations and groundwater monitoring and protection programs. We also work on air quality issues, fuel regulations, energy efficiency standards and Proposition 65 listings and regulations.” – Ka-Pow.com website

Petition, Sacred Sites

AB 742

BILL NUMBER: AB 742 AMENDED BILL TEXT

AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 16, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Nestande Bonnie Lowenthal
( Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Roger Hernández )
( Principal coauthor: Senator Wyland )
( Coauthors: Assembly Members Allen, Atkins, Beall, Block, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Butler, Carter, Davis, Eng, Beth Gaines, Gatto, Hagman,
Hill, Hueso, Lara, Ma, Mitchell, V. Manuel Pérez, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada )
( Coauthors: Senators Harman, Lieu, Padilla, Price, Runner, Strickland, Vargas, and Wolk )

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

An act to amend Section 2773.3 of the Public Resources Code, relating to mining, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 742, as amended, Nestande Bonnie Lowenthal . Tribal gaming: local agencies.
Surface mining: Indian reservations and Native American sacred sites.
(1) The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 prohibits a person, with exceptions, from conducting surface mining operations unless a permit is obtained from, a reclamation plan is submitted to and approved by, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by, the lead agency for the operation. Existing law prohibits a lead agency from approving a reclamation plan for a surface mining operation for gold, silver, copper, or other metallic minerals or financial assurances for the operation if the operation is located on, or within one mile of, a Native American sacred site and is located in an area of special concern, unless certain criteria are met.

This bill would also prohibit a lead agency from approving a reclamation plan for an aggregate products operation if the operation is located on or within 2,000 yards of the external boundaries of an Indian reservation and is on or within 5,000 yards of a Native American sacred site, and is on or within 4,000 yards of the Santa Margarita River or an aquifer that is hydrologically connected to the river, unless the tribe whose reservation is nearest the operation consents to the operation.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 2773.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
2773.3. (a) In addition to other reclamation plan requirements of this chapter and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter, a lead agency may not approve a reclamation plan for a surface mining operation for gold, silver, copper, or other metallic minerals or financial assurances for the operation, if the operation is located on, or within one mile of, any Native American sacred site and is located in an area of special concern, unless both of the following criteria are met:
(1) The reclamation plan requires that all excavations be backfilled and graded to do both of the following:
(A) Achieve the approximate original contours of the mined lands prior to mining.
(B) Grade all mined materials that are in excess of the materials that can be placed back into excavated areas, including, but not limited to, all overburden, spoil piles, and heap leach piles, over the project site to achieve the approximate original contours of the mined lands prior to mining.
(2) The financial assurances are sufficient in amount to provide for the backfilling and grading required by paragraph (1).
(b) In addition to other reclamation plan requirements of this chapter and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter, a lead agency may not approve a reclamation plan for an aggregate products operation if the operation is located on or within 2,000 yards of the external boundaries of an Indian reservation and is on or within 5,000 yards of a site that is a Native American sacred site and is on or within 4,000 yards of the Santa Margarita River or an aquifer that is hydrologically connected to that river, unless the tribe whose reservation is nearest the operation consents to the operation.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meaning meanings :
(1) “Native American sacred site” means a specific area that is identified by a federally recognized Indian Tribe, Rancheria or Mission Band of Indians, or by the Native American Heritage Commission, as sacred by virtue of its established historical or cultural significance to, or ceremonial use by, a Native American group, including, but not limited to, any an area containing a prayer circle, shrine, petroglyph, or spirit break, or a path or area linking the circle, shrine, petroglyph, or spirit break with another circle, shrine, petroglyph, or spirit break.
(2) “Area of special concern” means an area in the California desert that is designated as Class C or Class L lands or as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern under the California Desert Conservation Area Plan of 1980, as amended, by the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, pursuant to Section 1781 of Title 43 of the United States Code.
SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

To protect from imminent destruction Native American reservations and sacred sites threatened by proposed aggregate products mining operations, it is necessary for this measure to take effective immediately. All matter omitted in this version of the bill appears in the bill as amended in the Assembly, March 31, 2011.
(JR11)

MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT: Let our elected representatives know that you support this very important piece of legislation by sending the petition below.

[emailpetition id=”2″]

Unlike social media and commercial web sites, your contact information will remain private.

Petition

SAVE THE LAST RIVER

Link 1 Comment

Granite Construction Corporation’s proposed Liberty Quarry project is inconsistent with the needs and land use within the targeted area of southern Riverside County.

The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve is part of uninterrupted forest adjacent to the proposed quarry. On this same land, the existence of the last wildlife corridor between the coastal Santa Ana Mountains and inland Palomar Mountains is threatened. The Santa Margarita is the last free flowing river in Southern California and is in danger of becoming polluted. Failure to consider cultural, environmental, and social issues beyond the letter of the law will lead to irreversible consequences within the vicinity of the site and at locations distant from the site. These include threatened loss of Native American Sacred Sites, pollution of groundwater, pollution of the Santa Margarita River from quarry runoff, pollution of the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton, loss of San Diego State University-based research funding and ultimately, loss of the LAST pristine, wild river and wildlife corridor of Southern California’s American West.


Take Action

“All it will take for Granite Construction to triumph is for good citizens to do nothing.” —Edmund Burke (with respect)
A 1,000 residents of Temecula gathered to make their voice heard

Don’t let cynicism rob you of your will to speak up for what you know is right. If you elect to do nothing to speak for the land which cannot speak for itself, the corporation will win through the default of your inaction.

Send the petition below, post on FaceBook, make calls to your elected representatives, tell your friends, read more about what we all stand to lose if Granite Construction Corporation has their way. They may win anyway. Guaranteed you will sleep better at night knowing that you at least tried to make a difference.

Help ensure the survival of this important area, including the last free-flowing river in Southern California by signing this petition: [emailpetition id=”1″]

Once you have signed the petition, you may share the petition with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter using the buttons provided.