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7 . 0 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT VERSUS LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY Potentially significant environmental impacts which narrow the range of beneficial uses of the environment or pose long-term risks to health or safety include: the expansion of an existing quarry operation into lands under Williamson Land Act Contract. the expansion of existing quarry operations adjacent to lands under Williamson Land Act Contract and utilized for agricultural and rangeland purposes. This proposal is for the removal of scarce mineral resources, and not for the removal of prime farmland. This finding can be made because none of the topsoil will be removed from the project site. Replacement of the topsoil and restoration of the land for cattle grazing have been addressed in the Reclamation Plan. There will be no detrimental effect to adjacent agricultural lands as dust control measures will be utilized, excessive noise will not be generated on the site as a result of the project, and the days and hours of operations will be limited. These impacts will be minimized to a level of insignificance by the specific mitigation measures as outlined in the Reclamation Plan. Potentially significant cumulative and long-term irreversible effects resulting from the continued development and expansion of the mining operation include the removal by mining of a non- renewable mineral resource, sand and rock aggregate. The extraction of mineral resources is essential to the economic well-being of the County and the needs of society. Mineral deposits are rare geological occurrences, occupying very localized areas of the earth's surface. These deposits are widespread throughout the County and consist of metallic minerals and an abundance of non- metallic (industrial construction and building material) minerals. Development of mineral deposits into operating mines is a long process, often requiring several years and substantial investment before actual production is achieved. Mineral extraction is further affected by the availability of manpower, energy, water, transportation costs, technological changes, and governmental regulations. As the El Rancho Rock and Sand, Inc. Quarry is an ongoing viable operation, continued development of the mine at this time is justified, rather than reserving operations as an option for alternative development later. Production and consumption of these resources as this time are justified. In past years, the San Joaquin County area has had adequate quantities of relatively low-cost aggregate materials locally available. However, the amount of this material is diminishing as 32 CONDOR