Scoping Meeting August 25, 2010 Project Description, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Overview

The Proposed Project Site is located at 3923 S. Rio Vista in the community of Sanger and is bounded by Reed Avenue on the east between E. Annadale Avenue on the north and E. Central Avenue on the south. The Proposed Project is located on approximately 1,500 acres of farm land (one farming operation) located in the central portion of the County of Fresno, approximately 15 miles southeast of the City of Fresno and five miles north of the community of Reedley. Access to the Project Site is directly from S. Reed Avenue. The entire 1,500-acre Project Site is currently primarily agricultural in use particularly for the production of stone fruits.

Project Applicant: Colony Land Company, L.P. Application entails a CUP and Mine Reclamation Plan that includes: 1,500 acres of existing farmlands 898 acres of disturbance within a 1,500-acre site Maintain an approximate 602-acre buffer The Proposed Project will phase aggregate mining over an operating period of approximately 100 years. On-site operations will include rock crushing, asphalt, ready-mix concrete, and recycling plants.

Carmelita Resources will employ approximately 30 mining operation employees. Operations are planned to occur up to 6 days/week, or 312 days/year. Excavation and aggregate processing will typically take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Truck loading from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Asphalt and ready-mix plants from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The applicant has requested approval to load material into trucks at night to support nighttime road construction projects (e.g., Caltrans highway jobs) and emergency work. Maintenance activities may also extend beyond these hours. The Proposed Project will generate approximately 562 one-way vehicle trips 1. 1 Assumes a maximum production of the processing plants on any one day,

The final reclamation will create approximately: 583 acres of irrigation ponds for future water storage 238 acres of backfilled mining cells to return to agricultural use Maintenance of 77 acres of existing roads and irrigation ditches.

A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is a specialized land use approval that allows the County to consider special uses which may be essential or desirable to a particular community, but which are not allowed as a matter of right within a zoning district. The Fresno County Zoning Ordinance Section 858 requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for certain use of land or types of businesses which are not allowed as a matter of right in a particular zone district. (Such as a Surface Mine). Conditional Use Permits are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.

In order to approve a CUP the County’s decision makers (Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors) must conclude the following: 1. That the site of the proposed use is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the use and other features required by the use; 2. That the site for the proposed use adequately relates to streets and highways in width and pavement type to carry the quantity and kind of traffic generated by the proposed use; 3. That the proposed use will have no adverse effect on abutting property and surrounding neighborhood or the permitted use thereof; 4. That the proposed use is consistent with the Fresno County General Plan.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970 was enacted to address concerns about environmental quality in the State of California. CEQA establishes processes and procedures to ensure that California agencies complete an environmental analysis and consider and disclose to the public the environmental impacts of a proposed project. The purpose of CEQA is to: 1) Inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential, significant environmental effects of proposed activities. 2) Identify the ways that potential environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced. 3) Prevent significant, avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in projects through the use of alternatives or mitigation measures when the governmental agency finds the changes to be feasible. 4) Disclose to the public the reasons why a governmental agency approved the project in the manner the agency chose if significant environmental effects are involved.

An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is the planning document which describes the environmental impacts associated with a project. Typical impacts may include: traffic, air quality, noise, city services, and land use, among others. The EIR discusses these impacts and determines which ones are potentially significant. It also describes mitigation measures to reduce potentially significant impacts to a less than significant level.

The purpose of an EIR is to provide public agencies and the public in general with detailed information about the effects a proposed project is likely to have on the environment; to list ways in which the significant effects of the proposed project might be minimized; and to identify and analyze alternatives to the proposed project.

Aesthetics Agricultural Resources Air Quality Biological Resources Climate Change Cultural Resources Geology and Soils Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Noise Transportation and Traffic Alternatives to the Project Cumulative Impacts Currently Planned Resource Areas. Others may be added as a result of the Scoping Meeting or NOP responses.

Compile oral (August 25 th ) and written comments from public and agencies received by September 13 th Document these comments in the DEIR Respond to comments through evaluation of potential impacts in DEIR Complete any necessary specialized studies such as Traffic, Noise, Air Quality Assessments, etc. Prepare Administrative/Screencheck DEIR for County review

Upon review of Administrative DEIR by County, circulate the DEIR for a 45-day public comment period and posted on the County’s website : (If you provide your name and address, you will be notified when the Draft EIR is ready for review) Preparation of the Final EIR that responds to comments and makes any necessary revisions to the DEIR. Planning Commission uses information in the EIR (Draft and Final) to make an informed decision on the project.

Tentative Schedule: Scoping Session (August 25th) Responses to Notice of Preparation (September 13th) Draft EIR Available (Winter/Spring 2011) Written Comments on Draft EIR (Spring 2011) Planning Commission Public Hearing (Summer 2011) Board of Supervisors Public Hearing (Summer/Fall 2011, if appealed) Dates are tentative and subject to change

Remember this is your opportunity to voice concerns about the Project and help identify issues you would like analyzed in the EIR. If you do not wish to speak during the comment session, comment forms are provided to write comments and hand to us during this meeting or mail afterwards. Ground Rules: Please be courteous to presenters and those providing public comment. Speak clearly and succinctly to allow a clear summary of comments. Avoid repeating questions or comments to ensure all individuals have an opportunity to comment. Limit comment/questions to three minutes, if possible.

Scoping Session (August 25th) Responses to Notice of Preparation (September 13th) Draft EIR Available (Winter/Spring 2011) Written Comments on Draft EIR (Spring 2011) Planning Commission Public Hearing (Summer 2011) Board of Supervisors Public Hearing (Summer/Fall 2011, if appealed) Dates are tentative and subject to change