Draper City is suing, Geneva Rock, a mining company at the Point of the Mountain. The city is concerned about what the company's mining activity will do to the area. Photo credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
DRAPER, Utah — The city of Draper is suing Geneva Rock, the mining company at the Point of the Mountain.
The city said it wants to keep Geneva Rock from expanding. But the company claims its operations are protected under Utah Code.
While Geneva Rock has met the requirements of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, KSL Legal Consultant Greg Skordas says there’s more to it.
“Draper City is saying, ‘Well that’s great, but you also have to meet our city’s zoning requirements’,” he said. “Geneva Rock is trying to expand that mine quarry they’ve got on the east side of the interstate there at the Point of the Mountain.”
Skordas said there’s a chance that mining regulations could go back to the state legislature if Utah communities continue to face these issues.
“I mean I think that it’s kind of telling from both sides that we’re now down to a zoning requirement from a city in deciding what happens with a huge mining operation,” Skordas said. “Its certainly going to hold things up for a while until it can work its way through the court.”
Salt Lake County banned mining at Parley’s Canyon earlier this year. Despite this, last month the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining approved Granite Construction‘s request to mine.
Residents of Draper have expressed concern about the impact of noise, trucks, and dust associated with the company’s mining activity.
Draper government has affirmed the importance of preserving local zoning authority, according to a statement from the city. They also want the residents to be able to participate in the zoning process.
Devin Oldroyd contributed to this article.