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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... Oregon State Police involved in Salem shooting after suspect flees ... Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... Oregon State Police involved in Salem shooting after suspect flees ... HIGHER EDUCATION OSU-Cascades considering pumice mine property for expansion Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 3:56 PM By The Associated Press Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 3:56 PM » Social News BEND — Oregon State University is eyeing a 46-acre pumice mine as a possible location to expand its Cascades campus. Dozens of people attended a panel discussion the university held with engineering consultants Monday, reported The Bulletin. The consultants say the land can be developed and a decision could be made to purchase the property could be made later this fall, according to OSU officials. The pumice mine currently belongs to 4 R Equipment, a Bend company owned by Jack Robinson and Sons. The university has an agreement with the company and the option to purchase the property by September 2017. Initial plans call for removing a berm along the site and excavating and adding dirt to stabilize slopes along the mine walls. The pumice mine isn't the only property OSU-Cascades is considering as part of its plan to accommodate 5,000 students. The university has already started construction on an adjacent 10 acres that it already owns, and officials are also looking into the adjacent 76-acre former Deschutes County landfill. Some residents oppose the campus location because they fear increased traffic will overwhelm the neighborhood. A group called Truth in Site has taken those concerns to the Oregon Supreme Court. Carlson Testing dug nearly three dozen test pits at the mine to gather soil samples, according to the agency's geotechnical engineer Brad Wilcox. He says the tests helped them locate areas filled with dirt that had basalt boulders, concrete and asphalt mixed in, as well as pumice and tuff. Wilcox says the company also found a fault zone that runs through Bend during their excavation work. The U.S. Geological Survey has determined movement of the fault is very low. "Even though we saw a strand of a fault at the site, this site is no more unique than other sites in Bend because this fault zone encompasses the entire town," said Wilcox. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 3:56 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501