STOP THE ASPHALT PLANT!
OUR MISSION
Russian River Community Cares (RRCC) is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty, health, and prosperity of the Russian River region of Sonoma County.
We oppose Canyon Rock's plan for a new petrochemical asphalt plant on scenic Highway 116. We stand firm against the potential hazards an industrial asphalt operation poses to our health, environment, economy, safety, and community.
Risks include increased fire danger, noise and traffic, threats to scenic resources and ecological integrity, economic downturn, declining property values, noxious odors and toxic fumes that carry special health risks for children and the elderly.
NO asphalt plant in Forestville!
WHY WE CARE
Russian River Community Cares 501(c)(3) was formed by a group of concerned citizens, business owners, and community and environmental organizations who have identified the following risks a petrochemical asphalt plant poses to the health and public safety of our community:
FIRE RISK
Does common sense not come into play when siting a petrochemical asphalt plant amongst fire-prone forests and country properties?
Using petroleum-based product, asphalt plants run an inherent risk of accidental fires and explosions, sending far-reaching toxic clouds of black smoke for miles in the air, and taxing our local fire departments to keep local population, residences, commercial buildings, and surrounding forests safe. The daily delivery and storage of dangerous explosives including liquefied natural gas, diesel fuel and other toxic chemicals required for the production of asphalt increases these fire risks at the Canyon Rock site. Meanwhile, the real possibility of wildfires in the area generally present an ever-growing risk for a life-threatening disaster should the plant be permitted amongst our fire-vulnerable forests of redwood, pine, and oak trees. Homes within one mile of the site have only one public means of egress, making the risk to human life even more significant. Asphalt production and storage tanks have long been known to be at risk of catching fire and exploding due to the build-up of vapors as the materials are heated and stored, and diesel fuel is routinely used as a cleaning solvent at asphalt mixing plants. These conditions create a dangerous environment where accidental fires are often caused by human error. Combined with the substantial risk of wildfires inherent to our community due to the nature of the landscape, fire history and increasing climate volatility, the elevated risk of fire created by the proposed plant presents a dangerous liability to human lives and property.
Sonoma County Wildfire Risk Index Map - Proposed Asphalt Plant at Canyon Rock Site near Forestville is in a "Very High" to "Extreme" Zone on the Wildfire Risk Index:
For more information and reports on asphalt plant fires and related articles, follow these links:
Dangers of fire and explosion in asphalt mix plants
One dead in explosion, fire in OK asphalt plant
Fire at CO asphalt sends thick plumes of black smoke into the sky
HEALTH RISKS
Can the community truly be 100% protected from the health hazards from chemicals used in the production of asphalt? Who will guarantee that accurate monitoring of these cancer-causing gases will take place?
In April of 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule limiting cancer-causing gases from chemical plants nationwide. The new regulation specifically targets Ethylene Oxide and Chloroprene, both of which are required in the manufacture of asphalt, and are proven to cause cancer. The new rule also requires chemical plants to monitor Ethylene Oxide and Chloroprene near the fence lines of their operation.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS
Is it a sound decision to add the daily transport of dangerous petrochemical products through the center of town, and past areas in which children play and go to school?
Trucks traveling to and from Canyon Rock are required to pass through one of three heavily traveled intersections that are shared with local residents, visitors, cyclists, pedestrians, and school and commuter buses—all within close distance of the Canyon Rock site. One of the most traveled routes of commercial truck traffic generated by Canyon Rock requires these polluting trucks to travel daily through the center of Forestville, past Forestville Elementary School and the Forestville Youth Park—the same route proposed to accept the hauling of asphalt and other highly flammable materials such as liquid natural gas, diesel fuel and other dangerous products which are required for the production of asphalt. An inevitable increase of commercial truck traffic traveling to and from the plant on a 24-hour basis would impose substantial wear and tear on our local roads, add additional exhaust fumes into the air we breathe, and introduce the risk of accidental spillage of toxic petrochemical products onto our roadways, or into our waterways and precious ground water.
NOISE
With current noise pollution generated at irritating levels from their gravel operation, how does Canyon Rock expect the addition of around-the-clock asphalt production to be ignored?
A constant cacophony of rumbling machinery, equipment back-up beepers, and periodic blasting can be heard within one mile of the Canyon Rock site. The potential of asphalt production at Canyon Rock would increase noise pollution as its daily operation of blasting, grinding and processing of aggregate continues to expand, while extending the hours of operation into the nighttime for the mixing of asphalt. Since 2010, when Canyon Rock was granted a permit to expand their aggregate and concrete production, a significant increase of noise and traffic from commercial trucks has been readily evident. Gravel from these trucks is often spilled onto the intersections and roadways they travel through.
NOXIOUS ODORS
Should the general public at large be subjected to offensive chemical odors day-in and day-out for the financial gain of one corporation?
Even at minimal levels, asphalt plants produce pervasive noxious odors. It’s an inescapable truth that trucks transporting toxic petrochemicals to and from the Canyon Rock site would emit these noxious odors as they routinely travel through the center of Forestville—affecting every person breathing, living, working, visiting, or doing business within this rural bucolic town—and beyond into nearby Sebastopol village centers and surrounding scenic, recreational, and agricultural areas.
THREAT TO OUR SCENIC RESOURCES
Will the addition of an industrial asphalt plant along a scenic corridor ever be embraced by locals and visitors alike who take pride in preserving the natural beauty of the region? Don’t our scenic resources deserve better stewardship?
Designated by the state of California as a Scenic Corridor, Highway 116 would be forever changed by the towering silos erected 75 feet high on the Canyon Rock site, marring the natural beauty even more than the quarry operation has done to date. Additional deforestation, clear cutting, and excavation of more than 5 acres of hillside would be required to accommodate the massive foundation to support the components of the plant—extending the impact of the existing quarry operation into the scenic corridor. Nighttime operation of the industrial plant would add noise and light pollution to a rural area that enjoys peaceful “night sky” viewing.
IMPACT ON LOCAL ECONOMY
Should the business of a single entity such as Canyon Rock be allowed to negatively impact the livelihood of every other business in the area and significantly weaken our local economy?
With over 10 million visitors infusing $1.4 billion into Sonoma County’s economy in 2022, the prospect of allowing an industrial asphalt plant that produces an inescapable foul odor in this region would create a public relations nightmare for Sonoma County Tourism, and label our world-renowned Russian River destination as unhealthy and contaminated. The resulting decline in tourism in the area would clearly hurt local wineries, farms, restaurants, recreational, hospitality and tourism-based businesses—prompting shuttered businesses, reduced property values, and loss of Sonoma County tax revenues collected through Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and county sales tax.
POLLUTION
Is a site surrounded by sensitive habitats such as a protected creek, protected wetlands, and endangered species including the Coho Salmon and Spotted Owl, an appropriate location for an industrial petrochemical asphalt plant?
Asphalt facilities produce toxic pollutants. These pollutants, whether accidental or “permitted” would negatively impact the natural rural environment and disrupt local ecosystems. Critical salmon and steelhead habitat on the Russian River and its tributaries has been the focus of restoration efforts, especially in Green Valley Creek which borders the Canyon Rock Quarry site. Millions of dollars in public tax investments have been made to support habitat enhancement and species recovery. A unique species of Coho Salmon with distinct DNA was discovered and has been re-propagated and re-released into Green Valley Creek in areas adjacent to Canyon Rock since the early 2000’s. These salmon are “threatened” under the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts.
decline in property values
Canyon Rock claims to truly care about the community, Forestville, and area homeowners. Isn’t building and operating an industrial petrochemical asphalt plant in the backyard of those they purport to care about counter to that claim?
As the single-most important investment that most residents will make, home and property values are essential to our livelihoods and well-being. Data shows as much as a 56% drop in property values of homes and businesses in the vicinity of asphalt plants. Such a significant drop in property values would affect all property owners in the area and result in further loss in property tax revenues for the county of Sonoma. Adding to that, a petrochemical asphalt plant built in the vicinity of these homes could possibly affect the ability for homeowners to maintain or acquire fire insurance on their properties.
CANYON ROCK'S POOR TRACK RECORD
With their prior history of non-compliance with gravel and concrete production guidelines and the conditions of their current use permit, how can Canyon Rock be trusted to adhere to protecting the environment and mitigating the impacts of toxic asphalt plant activities?
Canyon Rock has a long history of non-compliance with requirements imposed on its existing permit to produce gravel and concrete, and has lost the respect and confidence of the majority of community members to be a good neighbor. Violations have included failure to respect setbacks from Green Valley Creek, failure to control debris and dust on Highway 116, and failure to establish screening vegetation along the Highway 116 scenic corridor. No meaningful progress has been achieved in enforcing these operating procedures and protecting the environment, leading to further questions about the ability, or desire of the County of Sonoma to hold this permit holder accountable.
CANYON ROCK HAS
OUTGROWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
What was a symbiotic relationship 75 years ago no longer exists in this rural, two-lane community. The proposed expansion of the quarry—together with a massive petrochemical asphalt manufacturing facility, with multiple seven-story holding tanks—is completely out of scale, and out of place for this special piece of country paradise.
Since the 1940’s, Canyon Rock has been supplying aggregate to Sonoma County. In 1972 the Trappe family bought the Canyon Rock quarry operation and continues to operate the business today.
75 years ago Canyon Rock was a small operation with a relatively small footprint, nestled in the lightly-populated bucolic hills of Forestville. Fast forward to 2024 and we see that Canyon Rock has decimated the area, leveling an entire mountain to the valley floor while clear cutting forests to the ground. The blight created by their expanding operation is blatant and has forever scarred the natural landscape of this beautiful scenic corridor.
In addition to the negative visual impact the quarry has created, the expanding mining operation has exceedingly increased noise, dust, and commercial truck traffic in this rural area where the population of full-time residents and visitors alike has significantly increased.
a vision for the future
The proposed site for an industrial asphalt facility is located at the juncture of the State and County designated Highway 116 Scenic Corridor, and in one of the most scenic agricultural valleys in Sonoma County, delineated by Green Valley Creek, a tributary to the Russian River.
This ecologically rich site has been subjected to an expanding industrial use for seven decades resulting in a devastating impact on the surrounding environment and quality of life. The mandated phasing of a Reclamation Plan by the current quarry operation has fallen far short of guidelines. As Sonoma County invests in a healthy and prosperous future, this site should be returned to a state that is more compatible with its surroundings. It’s time to consider a fresh vision for the future of this land.
Visualize a site that could be reclaimed to become compatible with the surrounding terrain of forest and agricultural open space; a site that could support preservation of the endangered and threatened species in the forest and in Green Valley Creek; a site that could set an example for the appropriate reclamation of land that has been desecrated by the open mining of mineral resources; a site that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
