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SFPUC approves amended quarry lease with conditions, commissioners add community and conservation protections
Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved an amended lease with Oliver De Silva for phased quarrying in Sonoma Valley, adding explicit language to require future commission and Board of Supervisors approval for expanded mining and directing staff to work with Sonoma Valley stakeholders on environmental and human impacts.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on a voice vote approved an amended lease allowing Oliver De Silva Company to operate and progressively expand gravel operations in Sonoma Valley under a three‑phase structure, while adding new language to strengthen community engagement and require further approvals for expanded mining.
Staff development project manager Mike Martin described the lease as a phased approach: immediate operation under the existing SMP 30 permit if transferred; within six months an application to Alameda County to revise SMP 30 for deeper and wider mining and construction of a cutoff wall; and a later combined revision of SMP 30 and SMP 17 to process limited material on Apperson Ridge and convey products to the valley site to reduce truck traffic in the watershed. Martin said the phases are subject to county regulatory and environmental review and that the lease reserves commission approval rights over permit applications and mitigation measures.
Public commenters split between endorsement and strong caution. Peter Galvin, Conservation Director and co‑founder of the Center for Biological Diversity, said the conservation agreement negotiated among Oliver De Silva, the Alameda Creek Alliance and his group "fundamentally advances conservation interests" and praised commitments including dam removal and habitat replacement. Neil Davies, a Sonoma resident and school board president, described long‑running local impacts from quarrying — citing frequent diesel emissions fines and asthma among students — and urged close scrutiny of air quality, blasting, truck traffic and reclamation timing. Derek Johnson of Save Our Sonol and other residents pressed for a clear reclamation schedule and raised concerns that initial mining proposals have grown deeper over time.
Commissioner amendments added language that "whereas this commission recognizes that quarrying activities are generally accompanied by environmental and human impacts," requires that decisions about any expanded mining activities receive commission and Board of Supervisors approval, and directs staff to work with Sonoma Valley stakeholders to respond to community concerns. Commissioner proponents described the package as a responsible path that preserves the commission's discretion and safeguards water‑quality interests in the San Antonio watershed.
Francisco DeCosta, who identified himself as director of environmental justice advocacy, asked the commission to apply San Francisco's "precautionary principle" when assessing projects that could affect human life and sensitive lands.
The motion to pass the amended resolution was moved, seconded, and carried. Staff said the lease's revenue projections for the initial phase exceed revenues from previous operators and highlighted retained city approval rights and opportunities for mitigation in subsequent permitting and environmental review. The commission also noted continuing opportunities for public review and county environmental processes before permit revisions could take effect.
