Saturday was the deadline for comment on the Hat Creek Delleker Temporary Asphalt plant to support the SR70 repaving project.
Portola’s city council discussed the topic last week, and many in the community opposed the project. Many cite toxicity levels, air, water, and noise pollution, harm to wildlife habitat, and increased truck traffic to the quiet community as reasons against the plant.
Though Perry Thompson, Owner of the Burney headquartered construction company, said, “This project differs significantly from the previous proposal for a permanent 40-year quarry and asphalt plant.” Thompson cites that the proposed plant site is already zoned for Heavy Industrial use near other like facilities; it is temporarily expected to last 3 to 4 years as Caltrans completes paving from Portola to Cromberg and will be dismantled once that project is completed. He went on to say experts have been brought in to analyze and ensure requirements have been met for air quality and environmental impacts to the Feather River and that the plant will be powered by propane, making it a cleaner alternative, He added that truck traffic would also be reduced at this site, as compared to if trucks were having to haul out of Susanville or Reno, as the project requires 180,000 tons of asphalt.
The commenting period was concluded on June 10th, with the project headed to the county board of supervisors for approval of the plant.
