The Siskiyou County Planning Commission on a roll-call vote approved amendments to the Waddell Rock Pit use permit and reclamation plan, adopting a mitigated negative declaration for the project.

Bernadette Susan, associate planner, told the commission that Jim Hayes, owner and operator of the Waddell Rock Pit, requested changes to the existing use permit and reclamation plan for the active surface mine north of Happy Camp on Indian Creek Road. "The proposed amendments will increase the mine boundary, increase production total estimate, extend the anticipated end date of mining activities, remove stream bed skimming from the mining plan, include the construction of the stormwater detention basin within the quarry area, update site maps and cross sections to reflect the proposed changes and include all requirements of SMARA within the reclamation plan documents," Susan said.

Susan told the commission the amendment was prompted because the previous operator removed material at the base of the quarry and the approved final slopes in the original reclamation plan could not be achieved. Staff recommended approval so the site would be brought into compliance with county ordinances and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) so reclamation can be achieved when mining ceases.

An initial study and a mitigated negative declaration (MND) were prepared by Vestar Resources, and agency comment letters were received from the California Department of Conservation Division of Mine Reclamation, CAL FIRE, the Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the county Environmental Health Division; one public comment was received after the staff report, Susan said. Dust abatement is addressed in the staff-recommended Condition of Approval 16 and the MND mitigation measures that require compliance with the county air quality officer's review and approval of a dust-control plan, Susan said.

After brief questions and no public opponents at the hearing, the commission voted to adopt Resolution 2025-011 approving the use-permit amendment (UP-17‑74‑1M), reclamation-plan amendment (RP01011M) and the sequenced mitigated negative declaration for the Waddell Pit. The roll-call vote recorded three yes votes and the record shows a commissioner recusal for this item; the motion passed and the project was approved.

The commission’s action approves the amended permit and MND with the recommended conditions and mitigation measures; staff noted agency review and a dust-control plan requirement that must be satisfied before or during operations. The hearing record includes the project’s staff report and referenced agency letters for compliance and follow-up.