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Developing a new Healdsburg Noise Ordinance

CEQA

What about noise pollution, what is END Group trying to do?

On this page we will explore the CEQA process and possible ramifications in developing a new noise ordinance for Healdsburg. New information will be added periodically. 

The Carrot and the Stick

The carrot and the stick. Syar showed both at the City Noise Ordinance Forum on July 31. An indication of how bad Syar Industries noise and dust problem has become is that everyone has been falling all over themselves thanking Syar for “voluntarily” shutting down and not polluting an extra two hours on Friday nights and all day Saturday! Gee thanks, now how about Monday through Friday nights?

 For all those people feeling warm and fuzzy, please note this is the carrot, a temporary reprieve, good only until we produce a new noise ordinance! An old figure of speech comes to mind:  “Indian giver”. (Please, no letters necessary, the phrase really can be PC, and I didn’t say “forked tongue”.)

 Now about that stick. Most people didn’t hear, or perhaps didn’t understand what Syar Vice President John Perry, said next. In a quiet voice he added – “of course the new noise ordinance has to go through the CEQA process”. This was not a gratuitous statement.

 That threat made it clear Syar will use every legal trick possible to prevent Healdsburg’s citizens from protecting our health and well-being from their noise and dust pollution.

 The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has been used for years as a tool by folks trying to control Syar’s mining in the middle reaches of the Russian River south of Healdsburg. OK, so those folks were mostly unsuccessful, no big surprise, we know who pulls the strings of Sonoma County officials, but can CEQA be a two edged sword used against Healdsburg?

 Its unclear if a new Noise Ordinance could be challenged using CEQA rules, because the City will be setting reasonable environmental limits, but Syar’s attorneys could tie up a new regulation in courtrooms for years. Ironically they would argue a new Noise Ordinance will have “a significant effect on the environment” because it would prevent them from running their equipment sixteen hours a day, thereby limiting their river strip-mining, with dire consequences for the environment. You get the idea?

Oh, by the way, does everyone who lives near River’s Bend know that in the next few weeks Syar is scheduled to start strip-mining a river sand bar with giant loaders and trucks, just outside their back windows?

 August 16 is the deadline to get your Noise Ordinance comments to the City. Read about noise and the new noise ordinance at www.ourHealdsburg.com.

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