Local rancher urges Humboldt County to halt Bridgeville Quarry operations over alleged permit violations

During the non‑agenda public comment period, Lori Barnwell of Chalk Mountain Ranch asked the commission to suspend surface‑mining work at the Bridgeville Quarry and to order a stop‑work notice for Mercer Frasier until county and state permits, reclamation plans and compliance can be demonstrated.

Barnwell said Chalk Mountain Ranch and others met with Planning Director Ford and county staff on February 3 to express concerns about continued operations at the Bridgeville Quarry. She told commissioners the group had submitted photos, videos and a packet of information and that the State Water Resources Control Board issued a notice of violation on April 1 that she attributed to surface‑mining activities at the site.

"Without intervention, ongoing activities would result in additional non‑compliance and further environmental damages as well as regulatory violations," Barnwell said, urging the commission to suspend operations while an exhaustive review occurs. She said the county, serving as lead agency for surface mining under the Department of Conservation framework, has not enforced required rules and recommended stop‑work action until permits from agencies such as the Water Board, Army Corps, Fish and Wildlife and Air Quality are in place and compliance is confirmed.

Barnwell said the county’s last annual site inspection (Nov. 13, 2024) reported no concerns even though the Water Board had documented violations one month earlier; she said the county inspection omitted reclamation plan details. She left the commission a separate packet for review and offered to answer questions; none were asked during that portion of public comment.

The commission did not take enforcement action during the meeting. Barnwell’s remarks were recorded for the public record and will be available in the meeting materials.