Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Jesse Morrow Mine Defeated

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has turned down a proposed gravel mine on Jesse Morrow Mountain, a prominent local landmark at the gateway to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The mine is a project of the Cemex Corporation, a multinational building materials company based in Monterrey, Mexico. The original plan proposed an open pit quarry and processing plant for aggregate rock, cement and asphalt. Cemex touted the creation of 130 jobs and millions of dollars a year from commercial and tax revenues for Fresno County. There was widespread local opposition to the project from farmers, businesses, environmental groups and Native Americans. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.