JESSE MORROW MOUNTAIN MINING PROJECT AS PROPOSED BY CEMEX

Cemex is proposing to operate a hard rock aggregate mining operation along the southern side of Jesse Morrow Mountain. This site is approximately eight miles east of Sanger and fifteen miles east of the City of Fresno in the eastern foothills of Fresno County. California State Route 180 (SR 180) forms the southern boundary of the Proposed Project site. Historical use of the Proposed Property has been for livestock grazing.

CEMEX owns the entire 824-acre section of properties along the southern side of Jesse Morrow Mountain. During the 100 years of the proposed mining operations the project would encompass approximately 500 acres of the site for quarrying and support facilities. The support facilities (plant operations) would utilize approximately 100 acres of the site. While the mining operation would ultimately excavate and reclaim approximately 400 acres of the site, only 150 acres would be mined at any one time. CEMEX, at full production, proposes to remove 2 million tons of aggregate per years from the site. This project will help meet the Fresno P-C Region’s projected demands of 5 to 6 million tons per year.

The overall mining operation will consist of hard rock aggregate extraction, an aggregate processing facility, a concrete batch plant, recycling of excess concrete and asphalt concrete returns, truck distribution of aggregate products, and various support facilities (e.g., weighing station, office, and maintenance). An asphalt plant will be located and operated at the site by a third party.

CEMEX is proposing to operate 315 days per year. Mining and asphalt plant operations will likely be from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and concrete batch plant operation will normally be from 3:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Scheduled maintenance activities are expected to occur on any day, including Sunday. Additional nighttime operations are possible for responding to public construction projects or emergency situations. The Proposed Project is expected to employ 40 people at the site. Transportation of aggregate, cement, and asphalt products will be from the mining location along SR 180 to project sites throughout Fresno County and surrounding areas.

Mining of aggregate will be performed along a section of the southern side of Jesse Morrow Mountain using bench cutting. During the first 30 year period of mining operations, quarrying would occur from a 1, 750-foot elevation level to approximately 1,100-foot above msl elevation. The lowest point of the existing ridgeline is at an elevation of 1,180-feet. This would be a reduction of ridgeline elevation of 80 feet. During the next 30 year period the ridgeline would be lowered to approximately 1,050 feet in elevation. This would be a reduction in ridgeline elevation of an additional 50 feet. During the final 40 year period of proposed mining operations, quarrying would occur from a 1, 750-foot elevation to approximately 1,000-foot above msl elevation. This would be a reduction in ridgeline elevation of another 50 feet. At the end of the proposed project’s 100 years of operations the finished elevation at ridgeline would be approximately 180 feet lower than the lowest point of the existing ridge to be mined. The change in elevation may be reduced depending on market conditions. The benching process involves clearing the loose overburden (topsoil) to expose the Nevada Batholithic basement rock. A flat area will be excavated and the igneous rock will be removed by blasting.

1. CEMEX indicated blasting would likely occur about two to three times a week between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the development and start up period. Emergency blasting may occur after 4:00 p.m. on very rare occasions for safety purposes. After a development and start up period, up to two years, CEMEX will evaluate reducing the blasting to once or twice every two weeks, in order to reduce the costs of operation. Loose rock will be removed by large front-end loaders for transport to a belt conveyor system or to a crusher to reduce the rock size to a manageable size for the conveyor belt. The conveyor system will transport the loose material to the processing facility at the base of the mountain. Water for dust control and processing will come from wells on the CEMEX property.

Once a given amount of rock has been removed from the bench, the surface will be graded to a 1:2 (vertical to horizontal; 26 degrees 34 minutes) slope, a flatter slope on average than the existing area to be mined. Removed top soils will be spread over the slope and the area revegetated with a native plant grass seed mix. The benching will progress from the top of the proposed mining area to the lower portion. Reclamation Plans for Jesse Morrow Mountain site largely include measures, to reestablish upland cattle grazing, control erosion, and develop a self sustaining vegetative cover for both erosion control and to reduce the aesthetic contrasts created by mining. A diagram of the benching technique is provided in Figure 3. An access road will be constructed from the plant area to the mining operation for servicing vehicles and providing general access to the site.

The processing facility at the base of the mining operation will consist of the following:

• Paved access road from SR 180 to the plant;
• Aggregate storage areas;
• Maintenance and repair shop;
• Fuel and oil storage tanks;
• Asphalt plant;
• Concrete batch plant;
• Truck bins;
• Rock crushers and sorters and screens;
• Parking areas and ramps; and 2.
• A vegetated berm along the east, south, and west to obscure the facility from SR 180 observation; and
• Several water reclamation ponds.
• Wheel Loaders, Roadgraders, Water Trucks, Haul Truck and associated equipment.

The Proposed Project would require the following discretionary approvals by the County of Fresno:

• A Conditional Use Permit for mining operation and
• SMARA compliance documents.