Russian Riverkeeper, Redwood Empire Chapter of Trout Unlimited, non-profit organizations v. County of Sonoma, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and Syar Industries Inc., and Does 1 through 5 (Real Parties in Interest)
Published: Nov. 3, 2012 | Result Date: Oct. 3, 2012 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: SCV248899 Settlement – Equitable Settlement
Facts
Two environmental groups filed suit, challenging a large, planned gravel mine in the Russian River. Syar Industries of Napa planned a project to remove gravel along a 6.5 mile stretch of river in the lower Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. The project was approved in December 2010. However, river advocates argued that the proposed level of mining would harm the river, doing damage to its salmon and steelhead populations. The lawsuit claimed that safeguards to prevent negative environmental consequences were not adequately addressed in the County's environmental review.
Result
The parties settled. The plaintiffs agreed to drop the lawsuit as long as Syar and the County met a number of measures, including a three-year reduction in the gravel to be mined, more detailed annual monitoring, and the formation of a scientific review team to guide ongoing decisions about the mining project. Syar also agreed to pay the environmental groups $30,000 to hire their own consultants to participate on the scientific team.
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