City of Santa Clarita, CEMEX announce truce

City of Santa Clarita, CEMEX announce truce The City of Santa Clarita, and global cement company CEMEX USA announced a truce Tuesday in a seven-year conflict over the construction of a sand and gravel quarry in Soledad Canyon.
   The two sides have agreed to find a middle ground that will limit mining in Soledad Canyon, while providing CEMEX with 'fair and full value' for the proposed quarry project.
   CEMEX is the largest cement and ready-mix company in the United States with a network including 12 cement plants, 49 distribution terminals, 49 aggregate quarries and 283 ready-mix concrete plants.
   The four-point agreement was signed by Gilberto Perez, CEMEX USA president, and Ken Pulskamp, Santa Clarita city manager.
   The parties have agreed that all pending processes and permit applications related to the project are not to be advanced from their status as of Dec. 31. Both parties have agreed to a 'cease fire' in the media; and both parties have agreed to hold a joint press conference to announce the truce. Finally, during 2007, the city and CEMEX have agreed to focus their resources seeking mutually acceptable solutions, which may include federal legislation.
   Since 1999, the city has spent more than $8 million to oppose the Soledad Canyon project, in the form of lawsuits, public information campaigns and even the formation of a national coalition of cities opposed to CEMEX.
   If, by the end of 2007 progress has been made, the possibility of extending the truce does exist, said Gail Ortiz, city spokesperson, adding, 'it certainly could take more than a year.'
   Conversely, if the truce proves unproductive the city and CEMEX will move forward, essentially as if the truce never took place.