Cemex received approval Thursday to expand its Rockfield mining operation along the San Joaquin River following a nearly six-hour hearing and a 3-2 vote from the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Nathan Magsig and Buddy Mendes voted to approve Cemex’s proposal, while Supervisors Brian Pacheco and Luis Chavez voted against.
The Mexican multinational building materials company will be allowed to dig 300 feet deep for 63 years for aggregate, amended from its original proposal to dig 600 feet deep for 100 years.
Cemex representatives at the meeting also agreed to raise per-ton fees incrementally from 5 cents to 7 cents to 10 cents, install water intake meters and monitor raptor nests within 500 feet of the site.
Blasting will take place 300 feet from the river.
The Rockfield site employs about 100 people and supports 300 indirect jobs, according to the company. Cemex has mined along the San Joaquin River since 1913.
Two-stage plan
The first stage, lasting up to 30 years, will continue aggregate mining at the quarry site and operations at the existing aggregate plant and ready-mix concrete plant. It also will add an asphalt plant to replace one that was removed.
The second stage will expand mining at the quarry site to hard rock granite, requiring drilling and blasting to about 300 feet below ground surface. A processing plant will also be added at the quarry site to wash, screen, crush and sort aggregate.
Public comment
Supporters and opponents each had an hour to speak during public comment. In all, 120 people commented in person and 10 by phone.
Many supporters were workers at the Rockfield site, who said they had made their livelihoods with Cemex and that denying the expansion would cost them their jobs.
Opponents cited potential pollution, noise and the environmental impact of blasting on the river and its wildlife.
