Jesse Morrow PowerPoint final 7-2010

Slide 1: 

JESSE MORROW MOUNTAINGATE WAY TO THE SIERRA’S Friends of Jesse Morrow Mountain, Inc. Web Site: friendsofjessemorrowmountain.org Special Thanks to: Robert Takacs, Kim Takacs, Andrew Shinn

Slide 2: 

WHO WE ARE: Friends of Jesse Morrow Mountain, Inc. 501 c3 non-profit corporation (donations are tax deductable) Concerned citizens, farmers, ranchers, landowners, retailers, conservationists ,environmentalists, and Native Americans. Our goal is to prevent mining on Jesse Morrow Mountain. We are dedicated to protecting the cultural, historical, biological, water and visual significance of this gateway to the National Parks and Monuments.

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According to the 2000 Fresno County General Plan, Jesse Morrow Mountain is part of the Sierra-South Regional Plan to “preserve the scenic open space character of the area . . . and to concentrate new development in appropriate locations where impacts to the area’s sensitive resources can be minimized.” This area of route 180 is designated as a scenic highway. California State Scenic Highway designation is pending. “Constraints to development include water supply; sensitive natural habitat; wildfire hazard; and expansive soils” FRESNO COUNTY GENERAL PLAN

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Aesthetics: Alteration of topography Vegetation Increased vehicle activity at the site Construction of buildings Equipment at the site Overall aesthetics, in conjunction with other development Air Quality: Air & related odor emissions Extreme nonattainment area for state & federal Cultural resources: “ Substantial adverse change in the significance of a historic & archaeological resource” of the Choinumni Traffic: Exceed capacity of roadways established by County and/or Caltrans Significant & Unavoidable Impacts Identified (DEIR)

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CEMEX Construction Materials: Includes: Hard rock aggregate extraction (Blasting, Large Equipment) Conveyor System Processing Facility Concrete Batch Plant Asphalt Batch Plant Truck Distribution of Aggregate Products Various Support Facilities (e.g., weigh station, offices, maintenance) CEMEX owns 2,036 acres for project Aggregate, cement, asphalt products will be transported from the project site via SR 180 to destinations throughout surrounding areas, including central and eastern Fresno County. Project Description CEMEX is proposing to operate a hard rock aggregate mining operation on the south side of Jesse Morrow Mountain.

Project Project Discription : 

Project Project Discription 100 year project 24 benches ~ 50’ tall ~ 1200’ deep Starting elevation ~ 1700’ amsl* Ending elevation ~ 500’ amsl south side, slightly higher north side Existing homes at base of mtn. at ~ 600’ amsl Processing plant elevation ~ 500 ‘ to 600’ amsl End slopes ~ .5:1 to 2:1 Deir figure 2.0-14 , 2.4.2.2, 2.6 *above mean sea level

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5 MAJOR CONCERNS THAT WILL AFFECT OUR VALLEY: PROJECT LOCATION 2. TYPE OF MINING SOUTH EAST 3. WATER 4. AIR POLLUTION 5. LIGHT POLUTION

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PROJECT LOCATION Majestic Jesse Morrow Mountain can be found 8 mi east of Fresno along Highway 180 on the way to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national Parks. For those familiar with the area, it is near the Old Sherwood Inn, the old cobblestone fireplace and the historic town of Minkler.

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE EAST : 

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE EAST Area of excavation 180 180 Frankwood Ave Frankwood Ave Kings Canyon National Park Alta Canal Friant/Kern Canal N Area of excavation

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE SOUTH EAST : 

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE SOUTH EAST Area of excavation 180 180 Kings Canyon National Park Friant/Kern Canal Alta Canal

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE SOUTH EAST : 

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE SOUTH EAST Area of excavation Kings Canyon National Park Reedley Sanger Fresno

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The San Joaquin Valley air basin is one of only two “extreme non-attainment” air quality zones in the U.S. The air pollution problems of the Valley are unique, caused by a more limited air pollution “carrying capacity” than that of any other major air basin in the country. The Fresno Bee, “Last Gasp” Series, 2002

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TYPE OF MINING BLASTING BENCH MINING SOUTH EAST

BLASTING 10am – 4pm 3 TIMES / WEEK : 

BLASTING 10am – 4pm 3 TIMES / WEEK

EXAMPLE OF MOUNTAIN TOP BENCH MINING : 

EXAMPLE OF MOUNTAIN TOP BENCH MINING

WATER : 

WATER In the past 70 years, ground water has dropped from 30 feet below the surface to 120 feet below the surface City of Fresno Estimated water use by CEMEX: 150,000 gal/per day. We feel this is underestimated. Potential damage to canals from spills and blasting. 20,000 gal diesel fuel storage tank, 1000 gal gasoline storage tank,2-20,000gal asphalt oil tanks plus other hazardous chemicals stored on site. DEIR 3.7-10

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE EAST : 

100 YEAR PROFILE FROM THE EAST Area of excavation 180 180 Frankwood Ave Frankwood Ave Kings Canyon National Park Alta Canal Friant/Kern Canal

AIR AND TRAFFIC : 

AIR AND TRAFFIC 281,700 Diesel Truck Trips CEMEX 272,936 Diesel Truck Trips Calaveras 196,564 Diesel Trucks Trips Central Valley Ready-Mix 299,541 Diesel Truck Trips Vulcan Materials 31,627 Diesel Truck Loads of Tree Fruit / year - California Tree Fruit Association Vulcan Central Valley Calaveras CEMEX 811,825 Diesel Truck loads of Table Grapes - US Department of Agriculture

Why the Concern with Increased Trucking? : 

Why the Concern with Increased Trucking? Current Diesel Truck Traffic 1,339,557 Trucks With Calaveras and RMC/CEMEX increase of 554,636 Trucks 41% increase in trucks 41% increase in truck pollutants 1,894,193

CRITERIA POLLUTANTSGRAMS / MILE : 

CRITERIA POLLUTANTSGRAMS / MILE 1454 grams = 1 lb 2Lbs / 2000 = 1 ton Total Grams/year = 177,877,110.3 g Grams1 converted to lbs/year = 391,822 lbs Lbs2 converted to tons/year = 196 tons Calculations compared with the limit of 10 tons/year. - SJVAPCD Report

Ozone Precursor Emissions : 

Ozone Precursor Emissions 196 tons/year is approximately 20 times the allowed limit. Calculations computed by the yearly emissions of ozone precursors from truck trips in tons/year, compared with the limit of 10 tons/year as the limit considered as a major source of emissions in an extreme of non-attainment regions as per the SJVAPCD Report.

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HEALTH EFFECTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER Increases in: Cholesterol Cases of lung cancer Heart disease and stroke Asthma and bronchitis Blood clots Heart attacks; infant mortality and sudden infant deaths; respiratory infections in young and old. Particulates thicken blood and boost inflammatory activity and increase death of immune cells American Lung Association/ California State University Fullerton

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HEALTH EFFECTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER Kings Canyon Unified, Sanger Unified, Clovis Unified School Districts 188,000 days of school absence 17,000 + days of respiratory symptoms in children 3,230 cases of acute bronchitis American Lung Association Increase in premature births Increase in infant mortality and sudden infant deaths Increased respiratory infections in young and old

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The San Joaquin Valley air basin is one of only two “extreme non-attainment” air quality zones in the U.S. The air pollution problems of the Valley are unique, caused by a more limited air pollution “carrying capacity” than that of any other major air basin in the country. The Fresno Bee, “Last Gasp” Series, 2002

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“The San Joaquin Valley – the most prolific farm belt in America – may be the most dangerous place in the United States to breathe.” The Fresno Bee, “Last Gasp” Series, 2002

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Light Pollution

BENCH MINING EXAMPLE : 

BENCH MINING EXAMPLE

Slide 36: 

“Final contoured reclaimed slopes would very from 0.5:1 TO 2:1” DEIR 2.0-28,0-40 0.5:1

ALTERNITIVE WITHOUT MINING JESSE MORROW MOUNTAIN : 

ALTERNITIVE WITHOUT MINING JESSE MORROW MOUNTAIN CARMELITA PROJECT INCREASE RESERVE TO 30 YRS SAME AREA OF COUNTY (~ 2 mi. away ,closer to Sanger and Reedley) 80 to 100 year project NEARLY SAME CAPACITY

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Susan Anderson, District 2559-488-3542Assistant - Christy Bourbonsanderson@co.fresno.ca.us Henry Perea, District 3559-488-3663Assistant - Patricia Pinedohperea@co.fresno.ca.us Judy Case, District 4559-488-3664Assistant-Dia Beigidbeigi@co.fresno.ca.us Debbie Poochigian, District 5559-488-3665District5@co.fresno.ca.us Phil Larson, District 1559-488-3541Assistant - Jean Barlowjbarlow@co.fresno.ca.us Hall of Records 2281 Tulare Street, #300Fresno, CA 93721-2198Phone: (559) 488-3529Fax: (559) 488-6830 Briza Sholars, Planner III Fresno County Public Works & Planning Dept., Planning & Environment Analysis Phone: 559-262-4454 bsholars@co.fresno.ca.us

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JESSE MORROW MOUNTAINGATE WAY TO THE SIERRA’S Friends of Jesse Morrow Mountain, Inc. Web Site: friendsofjessemorrowmountain.org Phone: 559-488-2157