Scandia gravel pit digs up concerns

Scandia residents soon will have a chance to voice opinions on the potential reopening of a controversial gravel pit near the St. Croix River.

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve the city's final draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 114-acre Zavoral Mine site. The action would release the document for public review.

The site is on Hwy. 97 between Hwy. 95 and the St. Croix River, near a major intersection that leads into the city. It was last operational in the 1980s. A possible revival of the pit has divided residents over environmental concerns and private property rights.

"We hear from both sides," said Council Member Sally Swanson. "There are people by the river and in the area [by the mine] who are opposed to it." Meanwhile, she said, other residents see the need for the gravel or think the government shouldn't infringe on private property as long as no laws are broken.

Although the 64 acres that the Tiller Corp. of Maple Grove has proposed for mining and reclamation are not on land protected by federal or state conservation laws, nine of the acres are on previously unmined land.

"[The nine acres] would be a terrible loss of natural forest on a scenic riverway," said Randy Ferrin, former president of the St. Croix River Association and a Scandia resident.

"It's just the wrong project for that part of the river, and for that part of Minnesota."

The current 206-page draft found limited environmental hazards.

"We thought it made sense to just remove the good quality [gravel] that is there, and then reclaim the land and restore it," said Mike Caron, Tiller's land use director.

Noise and truck traffic

Other matters in the EIS included higher levels of noise and traffic from trucks in the area. Excavated gravel from the Zavoral Mine site would be transported to nearby Scandia Mine -- about five miles away and also operated by Tiller. According to the EIS, the Zavoral Mine site could see as many as 220 trucks go through per day.

Caron said Tiller has "modified the project significantly" from its original proposal by no longer processing or washing the aggregate at the Zavoral site.

The EIS evaluated three alternatives for Tiller to open and close operations on the Zavoral Mine site. One would last five to 10 years, another three to five years, and a third would allow 150 working days. A fourth alternative would leave the land as it is.

"We don't have a preference on any of the time frames," Caron said. "Knowing that a lot of people would like to see the project done, though, the best answer would probably be the three- to five-year plan."

Ferrin offered a different viewpoint: "If they're going to do something, the best thing that could happen is take what gravel has been stockpiled and restore the site."

A 60-day public comment period would tentatively begin March 19 and last until May 18.

A public meeting with the Scandia Planning Commission is scheduled for April 3 at the Community Center, 14727 209th St. N.