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Organization: U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
Date: October 2, 2008
McKeon Pledges to Reintroduce Soledad Canyon Mine Act
Santa Clarita, Cemex proposal will move to 111th Congress with bipartisan support
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) today announced that with the end of the congressional session nearing, he will carry the Soledad Canyon Mine Act (H.R. 5887) into the 111th Congress. H.R. 5887, legislation that incorporates an agreement reached by the cities of Santa Clarita and Victorville and Cemex to settle a dispute regarding a mine proposed to operate in Soledad Canyon, has bipartisan support that will continue as the bill is reintroduced.
"This session is quickly wrapping up with the economic rescue plan dominating Congress, and it has become clear that the Soledad Canyon Mine Act will need to be brought forward in the 111th Congress. That's why I plan to reintroduce the bill as soon as possible in the new legislative year," said McKeon. "This is a critically important issue for my constituents and the legislation has ideal, bipartisan support behind it that will continue as we move forward."
McKeon's legislative proposal would cancel two ten-year Soledad Canyon mining contracts that CEMEX has with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), thereby ending the possibility of mining at the Soledad Canyon site. Currently, the Soledad Canyon Mine Act has ten cosponsors, including two Democratic members.
"The Soledad Canyon mining issue remains at the forefront for the residents of Santa Clarita, and I support the measure authored by Congressman McKeon," said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks). "I look forward to addressing the issue with him again as we move into the 111th Congress."
The Soledad Canyon Mine Act received a wide breadth and depth of support from a variety of constituencies. Since its introduction, bipartisan elected leaders including the entire Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, six separate southern California City Councils and more than 60 local elected leaders in Southern California; environmental and air quality groups such as the Sierra Club, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Planning and Conservation League, Clean Air Now, Breathe California of Los Angeles County and the Coalition for Clean Air; business organizations such as the Valley Industrial Association of Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce and the California Association of Realtors; political organizations such as the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley; neighborhood groups including homeowners associations and town councils; local school boards as well as water districts in addition to more than 1,000 southern California residents have declared support for the important legislation.
