Information Sheet
Purpose of Information Sheet
This document was created to present information regarding the Kings River Sand and Gravel project as well as present information pertaining to the status of permitted sand and gravel (aggregate) reserves in the Counties of Fresno and Tulare. This information will hopefully convey the importance for citizens and businesses to support permitting this project and projects of other aggregate supply producers.
Kings River Sand and Gravel Project Description
The project proposes to excavate aggregate from approximately 315 acres of the project site. No mining will occur within 200 feet of the Kings River channel or within the Designated Floodway or Flood Zone. Approximately 140 acres will be excluded from mining including setbacks, farmland within the Designated Floodway or Flood Zone adjacent to the Kings River, and all existing riparian and woodland, wildlife habitat adjacent to the Cameron Slough and the Kings River.
The aggregate will be processed on-site to produce quality construction materials for use in asphalt and concrete products for residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial buildings and structures.
Aggregate produced will be limited to a maximum of one (1) million tons per year. Operations will last approximately 30 years at the proposed levels of production.
Processing water to wash excavated materials will be recycled via a closed circuit recirculation system. Supplemental water, to replace water retained by the materials during processing, will initially be pumped from existing on-site wells. Once sufficient groundwater is exposed in the excavation phases, supplemental water will be pumped from the lakes created by excavation.
All existing riparian and woodland areas and areas within the designated floodway are to be excluded from mining. The site will be reclaimed to two (2) private, deep water, wildlife lakes, approximately 115 acres and 170 acres in size, with riparian habitat. The reclaimed use will increase groundwater storage within the project vicinity and help towards replacing California's original wetlands of which 95% have been filled or drained.
Importance of Aggregates
The aggregate industry (Industry) is very important to Fresno County. In 2000, the Industry in combination with construction related industries employed over 24,000 people and indirectly contributed nearly $1.5 billion dollars to the Fresno County economy. In addition, the Industry paid an average wage that is nearly triple the County's per capita income.
Without aggregates, there would be no new buildings, hospitals, roads, airports, shopping centers, homes, sewer systems, or any other structure used by Fresno County citizens. Approximately 60% of all aggregates are used in public works projects, and nearly 90% of all materials required for building federal, state, and local roads consist of sand, gravel, and stone. The average per-capita consumption of aggregates in the US is about 10 tons per person per year.
Aggregate Needs in Fresno and Northern Tulare Counties
According the California Department of Conservation (DOC), depletion of aggregate supplies in Fresno County is occurring at an alarming rate. Depletion of permitted aggregates in the Fresno Production-Consumption Region was estimated to occur as soon as 2011 (2003 data). The County currently operates with a production deficit; with a large percentage of aggregates currently imported to the County from surrounding areas at substantial increased cost.
As of 2006, the DOC estimated Fresno County had only 11% of the 50-year demand of aggregates permitted. This equates to a shortfall over the next 50 years of 558 million tons of aggregates. In addition, Northern Tulare County is in a similar situation with only 10% of the 50-year aggregate demand permitted which equates to a shortfall of 105 million tons.
Benefit of Increasing Permitted Reserves Close to the Fresno Area
In recent years, Fresno County has begun to import aggregates from surrounding areas, as much as 60 miles away. If local permitted reserves run out, the DOC estimates an increase of $50 million annually for construction costs due to cost of trucking aggregate into the Fresno area from outside sources. In addition, trucking this distance increases fuel consumption, air pollution, traffic congestion, and road maintenance.
Status of the Project
In 1999, Fresno County approved a conditional use permit for CMI to mine sand and gravel from the project site. However, the Conditional Use Permit contained conditions of approval that deemed the project infeasible. In an effort to reduce the potential impacts of the project, Calaveras reduced the aggregate mining and processing by 50%.
Public review and comment period on a draft supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) closed on July 9, 2007, the SEIR for the project should be final sometime in August 2007. It is expected the project will be presented to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors by Fresno County Planning staff sometime in September 2007.
What Can You Do?
We believe it is important for concerned citizens to support permitting new aggregate reserves. Letters of support can be sent to one or more Fresno County Board of Supervisors at the following address:
2281 Tulare, Room 300
Fresno, CA 93721-2198
Phone: (559) 488-3541
Board of Supervisors and their associated District are as follows:
In addition, letters of support may be sent to Fresno County, Department of Public Works and Planning.
Briza Sholars, Planner
Fresno County, Department of Public Works and Planning
Development Services Division
2220 Tulare Street - 6th Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
E-mail: bsholars@co.fresno.ca.us
Example letters can be provided by calling Terry Marshall, Compliance and Permitting Mgr. at 559-274-4511
