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CHAPTER 2 <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> 2.1 INTRODUCTION <br /> The RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project site includes approximately <br /> 688 acres of land that is regionally situated east of Koster Road, South Costa Ranch Road and the <br /> Delta-Mendota Canal, south of Blewett Road, and approximately two miles east/northeast of the <br /> Highway 580/Highway 5 interchange(refer to Figure 3-1,Regional Location Map). Of the 688 <br /> acres, approximately 590 acres is located within San Joaquin County and the remaining <br /> approximately 98 acres is located in Stanislaus County. <br /> The mining operation,as proposed, would consist of sand and gravel extraction and the <br /> processing of construction aggregates on property owned and leased by the applicant. The <br /> application proposes active mining for 26 to 60 years and the reclamation of all disturbed land in <br /> r. phases, resulting in an ultimate end use of agricultural land and open space. <br /> The proposed mining operation would consist of the extraction of 1.7 to 4.0 million tons per year <br /> yr of aggregate materials (sand and gravel)over a 26 to 60 year time period. The operation will be <br /> open pit,sand and gravel harvesting and processing. A mining plan was developed based on <br /> reviewing over 35 soil borings completed on the project site. Mining depths will vary from 70 to <br /> 120 feet below ground surface,depending on the groundwater level. No mining will occur in the <br /> groundwater aquifer. In addition to the mining operation,the project would include a processing <br /> plant and office facilities. <br /> Land uses in the area of the Proposed Project are governed by the San Joaquin County General <br /> Plan,the Stanislaus County General Plan,and the San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County <br /> Zoning Ordinances. Under the Proposed Project,no changes in land use designations are <br /> proposed, and mining activities are allowed under both the San Joaquin County General <br /> Agriculture land use designation and the Stanislaus County Agriculture land use designation. <br /> r <br /> 2.2 ISSUES OF CONCERN <br /> A NOP for the Proposed Project was circulated for a 30-day public review period beginning <br /> December 23,2002 and ending on January 23, 2002,pursuant to Section 15082 of the CEQA <br /> Guidelines. The notice was circulated to the public,local, state and federal agencies,and other <br /> interested parties to inform responsible agencies and the public that the Proposed Project could <br /> have significant effects on the environment and to solicit their comments. <br /> ' RMC Pack Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 2-1 ESA 1203015 <br /> Administrative Draft March 2004 <br />