Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Conditional Use Blasting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends conditional-use permit for blasting at Horn Shadow site for solar work
Summary
The Emery County Planning Commission recommended a conditional-use permit to allow controlled blasting at a remote Horn Shadow site near Huntington to prepare ground for solar infrastructure; staff described several blasts and safety controls and the commission voted to forward the recommendation to the county commissioners.
The Emery County Planning Commission recommended a conditional-use permit in November 2024 to allow controlled blasting at a Horn Shadow site near Huntington and Castle Hill to loosen hard bedrock for trenching and installation of solar panels and utilities.
Planning staff described the site as remote, far from homes and existing utilities, and said the contractor expects to drill roughly 1,800 holes and perform a series of controlled blasts to fracture shallow bedrock before moving material and preparing the surface. Staff told the commission the work would likely require a few separate blast events over several days and emphasized that crews plan to control blast size and manage debris to avoid impacts to nearby property or infrastructure.
Commissioners asked about the county’s authority and the conditional-use route (the county lacks a standard blasting permit process), and staff explained the planning commission’s recommendation would allow the county commissioners to consider issuing the conditional-use permit. A motion to recommend approval was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final permitting authority rests with the county commission. Staff said they will include standard conditions and notify adjacent landowners and that any final permit would set operational controls (blast size, timing, and site-restoration obligations).
