A PUBLIC HEARING to consider the revocation of Special Use Permit (SUP) No. 792 granting permission to mine for the Original Sixteen to One Mine was conducted during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on December 2nd.
Planning & Building Director Brandon Pangman explained the purpose was to conduct a public hearing and decide whether or not to revoke. He stressed Sierra County is mining friendly and they were not interested in shutting it down, but need them to come back into compliance. He stated there was a Federal case pending on who owns the mine and have been dealing with the current operator Roger Haas of Quartz View Inc. Pangman said Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) applies when there is any surface disturbance. It requires a special use permit to mine and when SMARA is triggered it requires a Reclamation Plan. Adding the Plan works hand in hand with the SUP. Once approved by the county and state there are annual reports and the county has to do annual inspections to make sure it’s in compliance. He noted through the annual inspection process going on about 30 years they have not been in compliance despite repeated requests to update the SUP and Plan to more accurately describe the site conditions.
The Sierra County Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on this issue, and on September 25th recommended the SUP be revoked.
Planner Ashley Powell walked the board through the administrative record and listed outstanding violations. She stated on October 2, 2025 the Planning Department received an incomplete application from Quartz View, Inc. which took over mine operations in April of 2022. On October 16th a letter was sent back to Quartz View citing this and to date there had been no response.
Roger Haas, CEO of Quartz View, stated they “took over this mess” and are working hard to get into compliance.
He said the hardest part has been water quality control and EPA. They now have a process to treat the water and plan to move the mine into total compliance. He explained previous owner Michael Miller never gave them any records of the mine, so they are trying to figure it all out. He felt if they could get an extension on existing SUP, he could amend it to bring it into compliance in three years. Haas stated getting the water quality solved will help them to make an intelligent plan on what they can do with the mine. They already hauled away 50 junk cars, 700 gallons of used motor oil, and about a thousand florescent light tubes. He admitted not paying much attention to Sierra County due to trying to get the water quality fixed first.
Michael Miller encouraged them to revoke the SUP, calling it outdated and not required. He stated mining is a great asset and a wonderful thing for Sierra County and the mine can operate without the SUP.
Pangman responded from their standpoint the code clearly states “you may not mine without an SUP and Reclamation Plan.” He said the only way you can make the argument is with vested rights and that’s never been a determination and no such claim has been made by the operator. If the SUP is revoked mining must immediately stop and may not continue in any form.
Board Chair Lee Adams stated there was a reason for SMARA and other regulations to keep everyone safe. He was sad with the thought of having this permit cancelled but something had to change. Adams suggested the board consider a six-month review to see where Haas and Quartz View are on making progress. Pangman felt this was reasonable if they receive a complete application so they can start getting through the process. Adams said if no progress has been made within the six month extension, the SUP will be revoked.
An alternative resolution was read aloud allowing for a 6-month extension no later than July 1st and was unanimously approved.
Planning & Building Director Brandon Pangman explained the purpose was to conduct a public hearing and decide whether or not to revoke. He stressed Sierra County is mining friendly and they were not interested in shutting it down, but need them to come back into compliance. He stated there was a Federal case pending on who owns the mine and have been dealing with the current operator Roger Haas of Quartz View Inc. Pangman said Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) applies when there is any surface disturbance. It requires a special use permit to mine and when SMARA is triggered it requires a Reclamation Plan. Adding the Plan works hand in hand with the SUP. Once approved by the county and state there are annual reports and the county has to do annual inspections to make sure it’s in compliance. He noted through the annual inspection process going on about 30 years they have not been in compliance despite repeated requests to update the SUP and Plan to more accurately describe the site conditions.
The Sierra County Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on this issue, and on September 25th recommended the SUP be revoked.
Planner Ashley Powell walked the board through the administrative record and listed outstanding violations. She stated on October 2, 2025 the Planning Department received an incomplete application from Quartz View, Inc. which took over mine operations in April of 2022. On October 16th a letter was sent back to Quartz View citing this and to date there had been no response.
Roger Haas, CEO of Quartz View, stated they “took over this mess” and are working hard to get into compliance.
He said the hardest part has been water quality control and EPA. They now have a process to treat the water and plan to move the mine into total compliance. He explained previous owner Michael Miller never gave them any records of the mine, so they are trying to figure it all out. He felt if they could get an extension on existing SUP, he could amend it to bring it into compliance in three years. Haas stated getting the water quality solved will help them to make an intelligent plan on what they can do with the mine. They already hauled away 50 junk cars, 700 gallons of used motor oil, and about a thousand florescent light tubes. He admitted not paying much attention to Sierra County due to trying to get the water quality fixed first.
Michael Miller encouraged them to revoke the SUP, calling it outdated and not required. He stated mining is a great asset and a wonderful thing for Sierra County and the mine can operate without the SUP.
Pangman responded from their standpoint the code clearly states “you may not mine without an SUP and Reclamation Plan.” He said the only way you can make the argument is with vested rights and that’s never been a determination and no such claim has been made by the operator. If the SUP is revoked mining must immediately stop and may not continue in any form.
Board Chair Lee Adams stated there was a reason for SMARA and other regulations to keep everyone safe. He was sad with the thought of having this permit cancelled but something had to change. Adams suggested the board consider a six-month review to see where Haas and Quartz View are on making progress. Pangman felt this was reasonable if they receive a complete application so they can start getting through the process. Adams said if no progress has been made within the six month extension, the SUP will be revoked.
An alternative resolution was read aloud allowing for a 6-month extension no later than July 1st and was unanimously approved.
