Project Overview

Why does Eugene Sand & Gravel need a new gravel pit now?
The useful life of a rock resource is about 25 to 50 years, depending on the quality and quantity of the original resource. Eugene Sand & Gravel has been at its current location since 1966. It needs a new source of good, quality rock to provide building materials into the next century.

Exactly where will the new gravel pit be located?
The new site is between Eugene and Junction City, four miles north of Beltline, east of River Road, south of Lone Pine Road.

Why this location?
Tests showed there is a large reserve of high quality aggregate on this site, it's close to our customers, and the property owners were willing to sell. It should provide the gravel needed for local construction projects for years to come.

When will the new gravel pit open?
First, Lane County's Comprehensive Plan must be amended and we must obtain a number of state and federal permits. Eugene Sand & Gravel hopes to begin work at the new site within a year or two.

How many acres will be mined?
Eugene Sand & Gravel's site encompasses 550 acres. During the life of the project, about 240 acres (less than half the total acreage) will actually be mined. The rest will be set aside to buffer the mining operation from neighbors and the river. No more than 100 acres will be in production at any one time.

Where has Eugene Sand & Gravel mined before?
The River Road site will be Eugene Sand & Gravel's fifth gravel production site in Eugene since the company was founded in 1880. Under Oregon law, sites must be reclaimed; returning it to a natural state when the mining is completed. Many local landmarks were created from rock extraction sites, including the climbing wall at Skinner Butte, the Delta Ponds and Alton Baker Park.

Aren't gravel operations noisy?
Yes they can be noisy, but we must comply with strict noise standards set by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). By installing good mufflers on equipment and by using earth berms and landscaping around the site, the impact of the noise on neighbors will be greatly reduced.

What about traffic to and from the new site?
Eugene Sand & Gravel will be required to minimize any impacts that may result from increased truck traffic. For example, Eugene Sand & Gravel proposes not moving trucks out of the site between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday because of heavy southbound traffic on River Road at that time.

What about protection for Spring Creek and the Willamette River?
Eugene Sand & Gravel will protect a riparian zone up to 1,400 feet wide along the Willamette River. This is more than 10 times the 100-foot buffer required by law. Spring Creek will also be protected with setbacks, berms and streamside plantings.

How will you protect the bald eagle that nests on that site?
A bald eagle is nesting in the riparian zone along the Willamette River. Even though the bald eagle is no longer listed as a threatened or endangered species, we will work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to make sure the eagle is not disturbed during its nesting season, from March through June.

How much rock is used in construction?
Rock is used to build schools, hospitals, bridges, highways, shopping malls, athletic stadiums, office buildings, airports and more. Concrete and asphalt derive their strength from rock, a primary ingredient in both. It takes approximately 16,000 tons of aggregate to build just one mile of paved road. An average three-bedroom home uses 400 tons of aggregate for the foundation, sidewalks, driveways and so on. The average per capita use of rock products in Lane County is 12-15 tons per person, per year.

What local construction projects used rock from Eugene Sand & Gravel?
Projects built by Eugene Sand & Gravel or with its products include:
· Autzen Stadium
· Jefferson Street Bridge
· Valley River Center
· Hult Center
· Reopening of Willamette, Olive and Broadway streets
· Ferry Street Bridge
· hundreds of miles of local streets and roads

and many more, including public safety facilities, hospitals, schools, churches, housing developments and commercial sites.