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2.Executive Summary Proposed Project and Project Alternatives The Cemex Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project site includes approximately 688 acres of land that is regionally situated east of Koster Road, South Costa Ranch Road,and the Delta-Mendota Canal, south of Blewett Road, and approximately two miles east-northeast of the — Highway 580/Highway 5 interchange (refer to Figure 3-1,Regional Location Map). Of the 688 acres,approximately 590 acres is located within San Joaquin County and the remaining — approximately 98 acres is located in Stanislaus County. The mining operation,as proposed,would consist of sand and gravel extraction and the processing of construction aggregates on property owned and leased by the applicant. The application proposes active mining for 26 to 60 years and the reclamation of all disturbed land in phases, resulting in an ultimate end use of agricultural land and open space. — The proposed mining operation would consist of the extraction of 1.7 to 4.0 million tons per year of aggregate materials(sand and gravel)over a 26-to 60-year time period.The operation will be — open pit,sand and gravel harvesting and processing.A mining plan was developed based on reviewing over 35 soil borings completed on the project site. Maximum mining depths will vary from 88 to 116 feet below ground surface,depending on the groundwater level.No mining will — occur in the groundwater aquifer. In addition to the mining operation,the project would include a processing plant and office facilities. Land uses in the area of the Proposed Project are governed by the San Joaquin County General Plan,the Stanislaus County General Plan,and the San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County Zoning Ordinances. Under the Proposed Project,no changes in land use designations are — proposed,and mining activities are allowed under both the San Joaquin County General Agriculture land use designation and the Stanislaus County Agriculture land use designation. The following project alternatives are discussed in Draft EIR(Chapter 5,Alternatives to the Proposed Project): • Alternative 1 —No Project Alternative • Alternative 2—Reduced Project Production • Alternative 3—Off-Site Alternative Under the No Project Alternative,no mining would occur, and the existing land uses at the site (agriculture and rural residential)would continue. The Reduced Project Production would reduce the size of the project through one of two scenarios.Scenario I would reduce the amount of extraction to 1.7 to 2.85 million tons per year of aggregate materials(sand and gravel). Scenario 2 would reduce the amount of land to be mined(reduce the number of phases by eliminating mining in Phases V and VI). Alternative 2, Scenario 2 is the Environmentally Superior Alternative (other — than the No Project Alternative). The Off-Site Alternative consists of 13 parcels of land and a total of about 452 acres, near the City of Tracy. Cemex Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project ES-2 ESA 1203015 — Final Emimnmental Impact Report June 2008