Critics Win County Delay on New Mine Regulations

Bowing to complaints from residents demanding stricter measures, county officials have delayed for a month imposing new air pollution regulations on the operator of a Lockwood Valley clay mine.

Residents say the new regulations don’t go far enough to reduce the sulfur dioxide emitted by Pacific Custom Materials.

In January, the clay mine agreed to new measures after a study showed it was releasing 1 1/2 times as much sulfur dioxide--a precursor to acid rain--as standards allow.

The new measures call for injecting lime into the plant’s kilns, which would cut down on sulfur dioxide emissions. But residents said they don’t trust the board to impose the toughest restrictions on the plant.