Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Quarry Blasting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident tells Humboldt County board blasts have shaken houses, requests seismograph data
Summary
During public comment a resident said blasting attributed to Cole Anderson has shaken houses, raised dust and damaged roads; the resident said seismograph readings were withheld by the operator and asked the county to pursue notification and road enforcement steps.
A resident told the Humboldt County governing board that two quarry blasts near their home shook the house, generated dust and left visible tire-track damage on local roads, and asked who would compensate for lost property value.
"My house has taken a hit. It shakes each time it happens," the resident said. They said they had asked twice for a copy of a seismograph placed in their yard and were told the data belonged to the operator, Cole Anderson: "He says, well, the information belongs to Cole Anderson, and Cole gives it to you. Fine. If he doesn't, that's fine. I've never got anything."
Board members asked residents to keep a log of dates and times, to take photos of trucks and damage and to contact emergency management or the county's EOT. One member suggested civil remedies may be necessary if damage can be documented. Staff said records and notifications about blasting and dust control exist in county correspondence and that letters had been sent in March to vendors providing dust control services.
Board members also discussed vehicle overloading and road damage complaints; a resident reported being stopped by an overloaded truck in the past and asked whether fines were paid. Staff asked commenters to provide photographs and specific dates so county staff could investigate enforcement and road-repair options.
Why it matters: residents complaining of blasting and heavy-truck use near homes raise public-safety, property-value and road-maintenance issues. County staff advised documentation and staff follow-up; the resident said seismograph data had not been provided directly to them by the operator.
Next steps: the board advised residents to document incidents, supply photos, and allow staff to follow up with emergency management and appropriate enforcement divisions. The transcript records requests for seismograph data; the operator was said to be the custodian of that data according to the resident.
