Frequently Asked Questions…

Where is Jesse Morrow Mountain?
Jesse Morrow Mountain is in Southeast Fresno County. It lies along the Blossom Trail north of and adjacent to the scenic King's Canyon Highway. It is the first mountain you encounter as you leave the valley on your way up to the Sierras and King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It's majestic slopes, dotted with wildflowers in spring or golden grasses in summer and range cattle year round have been an inspiring sight for as long as human eyes have fallen on it.

What is all the fuss about mining Jesse Morrow Mountain?

Lots of reasons!

1. For starters, the mountain is a thing of rare beauty in an area who's natural assets are not well known. If this mine goes into operation, portions of Jesse Morrow Mountain will be blasted into gravel 100 days out of the year, the mined portion of the mountain will be lowered 400 feet in the initial phases, more thereafter, and light from the operation will light the skies all night long for 100 years.
   
2. The company that proposes to mine this mountain is Cemex, a giant Mexican corporation which does business in more than 50 countries worldwide and which has no interest in Fresno County except as a source of gravel. Cemex already has a very long list of air and water quality violations behind it in this country and, as of 12/31/05, was already operating 57 quarries in the US. A nation-wide alliance has formed in the US to halt the opening of new Cemex operations and the expansion of existing Cemex operations as a result of the company's record. Cemex has a reputation for paying fines rather than complying with local air and water quality standards.
   
3. Air pollution. Fresno County lags behind Federally mandated clean-up deadlines by 11 years and is applying for an extension based on the fact that problems with air quality in this area are so extreme. Area children already suffer asthma at roughly twice the national average Even a very conscientious gravel mining operation, and we do not think that includes Cemex, adds chemicals and particulates to the air. Gravel trucks taking materials to and from the mine will also contribute to fouling the air. Fresno air quality needs to get better - not worse.
   
4. Water use. San Joaquin Valley aquifers have been declining for decades and new surface water sources have not come in to replace the groundwater that's been lost. The Cemex mine proposes to pump 150,000 gallons per day. Two other gravel mining operations already operating within 3 1/2 miles of the proposed Cemex mine (Vulcan and Central Valley) have proposed to expand their operations. They will be pumping ground water as well. A fourth mine (Calaveras CMI), also planning to pump groundwater, is proposed to open within 3 1/2 miles of Cemex. The cumulative impact of all this pumping on the aquifer is unknown, but clearly headed in the wrong direction. Farming, the lifeblood of Fresno County may suffer.
   
5. Truck Traffic. The Cemex operation estimates that it will add 900 round trips by gravel trucks every day, beginning on King's Canyon Highway (Hwy 180) and then spreading out onto other roads. Each of the other local mining operations will put gravel trucks on the road as well. Together, the number of daily gravel truck trips is expected to be in the thousands. These trucks will be on the same roads as school busses, commuters and tourists on their way to the parks. It is easy to anticipate more accidents of a serious nature. At the very least, rocks and gravel kicked up from the roadway by these trucks can be expected to be hitting windshields at higher levels than present. Contact the Fresno County Planning Commission for details of the traffic plans for these mines.
   
6. Safety. Slow moving gravel trucks will be entering the road where cars and busses generally travel 60 miles an hour.

Isn't it ecologically better to create the gravel here than truck it in from a distant place?
If you read the answer to the last question, you know that the pollution from this mine will occur right here.

We need gravel to pave roads and concrete to build houses. Where is the material going to come from if not from Jesse Morrow Mountain?
There are two (2) existing mines proposing to expand and another proposed to begin operation within 3 1/2 miles of Jesse Morrow Mountain. This is in addition to mines in other portions of Fresno County and neighboring counties.

Who is Cemex and what is their reputation?
Cemex is a giant Mexico based producer of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and related building materials operating in more than 50 countries. It is the largest supplier in the US with 57 quarries operating here as of 12/31/2005. They have been cited for air and water quality violations in this country numerous times. A March 2007 internet search of "Cemex violations" netted over 2300 websites. The most recent Federal lawsuit over air and water quality violations was in February of this year (2007), this time concerning the Cemex plant in Victorville, California. The City of Santa Clarita has spent over $7,000,000 trying to fight expansion of the Cemex plant in their area and appears poised to fail. With billions of dollars in financial assets, Cemex is able to pay fines for violations and, once established, withstand challenges to its operations.

How is Jesse Morrow Mountain important to the local Native American people?
The Choinumni, a band of Native Americans whose cultural heritage and burial grounds are on this mountain call it Wahalich. This mountain is sacred to them, but, because they are not a registered tribe and have not been able to file the necessary paperwork to declare this mountain a sacred historical site, their claims have been ignored.

Who are the 'Friends of Jesse Morrow Mountain'?
We are a group of concerned citizens from all over the greater Fresno area who oppose mining this mountain. Please see our mission statement We further recognize that the air quality in Fresno County is among the poorest in the nation and suggest that it would be unconscionable to invite known polluters to do business here.

What stage is this mining proposal in terms of planning and approval?
The mining proposal is currently with the Fresno County Planning Commission which is evaluating the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project. The EIR is being prepared by Greystone, a company hired by RMC Pacific Materials, Inc. before it was bought out by Cemex. The EIR will be released for a 45 day public comment period in the near future. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposal sometime after that.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

Let your Fresno County Supervisors know that you do not want them to vote to allow Jesse Morrow Mountain to be mined. Let them know that you will use your voting power to remove them if they do.

Come to the public meeting(s) that will be scheduled when the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed mine is released by the County Planning Commission and let your opinion be heard.

Tell your friends and neighbors about the proposal to mine Jesse Morrow Mountain.

Go to the City of Santa Clarita's website, www.stopcemexmegamine.com for more information and links to stories about Cemex's activities in other areas.

Let us know if you want to get involved or make a contribution.

Call or write your supervisors at the addresses and telephone numbers listed below.

Phil Larson, District 1
559-488-3541
Assistant - Jean Barlow
jbarlow@co.fresno.ca.us

Susan Anderson, District 2
559-488-3542
Assistant - Christy Bourbon
sanderson@co.fresno.ca.us

Henry Perea, District 3
559-488-3663
Assistant - Patricia Pinedo
hperea@co.fresno.ca.us

Judy Case, District 4
559-488-3664
Assistant-Dia Beigi
dbeigi@co.fresno.ca.us

Bob Waterston, District 5
559-488-3665
Assistant - Kathy Burrows
kburrows@co.fresno.ca.us

2281 Tulare Street,
#301, Hall of Records,
Fresno, CA 93721-2198
Phone: (559) 488-3529
Fax: (559) 488-6830
bseidel@co.fresno.ca.us