Tres Alamos residents tell Cochise County supervisors the Sierra Mining site is operating without permits and ask for biomass removal

Members of the Tres Alamos Community Alliance told the Cochise County Board of Supervisors at a March 11 work session that activity at 2150 North Ocotillo Road — identified in their materials as a Sierra Mining and Crushing site — includes a large “biomass” pile and recent earth-moving that residents say was done without required county permits.

Mr. Walker, a member of the Tres Alamos Community Alliance, asked supervisors to confirm as fact that the property owner “does not hold any kind of use permit or business license” enabling industrial operations at the site and to require removal of the large pile of green/wood waste. "We are not seeking money. There is nothing in any of the requests that we've made that calls for the county to spend $1," Walker said.

Randy Durham, speaking by video, presented drone and ground photographs of grading, berms and ravines around what presenters described as the borrow pit and said the new berms and grading have changed runoff paths and caused erosion onto neighboring properties. Durham said county floodplain staff visited the site, took notes and photographs but that the erosion has continued. "All we've ever wanted was put it back the way it was and take care of your watershed issues on your old land," Durham said.

Residents said truck traffic to and from the site increased in early 2024 as loads of green waste were brought in and gravel hauled out. Gene Renick, a local resident and TACA member, said he and other neighbors counted as many as 50 to 60 truck trips a day during the period when the pile grew. Neighbors told the supervisors they used Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain county documents about the property because they found conflicting information about the site's status.

Shane Mattson, who identified himself as the owner of the property, called in during the session and said he believes the site is operating as a borrow pit rather than a crushing and screening operation and that he was unaware of drainage problems. Mattson said he would meet with neighbors and county staff to address concerns. "I'd be willing to meet with people to resolve any of the drainage problems," he said.

Presenters told the board that, according to a State of Arizona mining inspector referenced in their packet, no active sand-and-gravel mining permit had been issued for the site; TACA asked the supervisors to clarify whether any state mining exemption applies and to confirm the county's enforcement authority. The presenters urged the board to require removal of the biomass pile and to commit to ongoing oversight and enforcement of applicable laws, ordinances and rules for the property.

County staff present at the session did not announce any formal enforcement action during the meeting. Presenters said they had already asked staff questions and would follow up with county engineers and other offices to identify any course of action the county could take.

The supervisors did not take formal action at the work session; they said they would review the material and schedule follow-up meetings or staff briefings to respond to the residents' requests.

Ending

Residents asked the board to confirm permitting status, remove the pile and address drainage and erosion; property owner Shane Mattson told the supervisors he is willing to meet with neighbors and county staff. The board said staff would review TACA's materials and respond later, but no enforcement decision was announced during the March 11 work session.