Cemex expands mine in Brooksville, United States

Critics fear ill expansion effects

{reg}Cemex works to ease fears about new mine in Brooksville, in Hernando County, Florida, in the United States, reports Hernando Today. Worries about loud booms, vibrations shaking homes and rock trucks thundering all are unfounded according to representatives of Cemex Construction Materials Florida.

Cemex will ask the zoning commissioners for a recommendation to amend the county's future land-use map to expand mining operations on 730 acres fronting State Road 50 and Fort Dade Avenue, across from Bayfront Health in Brooksville, requiring a change in zoning from residential and commercial to mining and commercial.

Despite the company's assertions, critics are united in their efforts to block the expansion. Their concerns include detrimental environmental effects, contamination of drinking water, loud blasting noises, a loss of trees and devaluation of nearby properties.

According to James Morris, regional environmental manager with Cemex, the operation will be controlled and coordinated so that nearby residents and businesses will not experience ill effects. 730 acres are included in the company's request for the zoning commissioners, 573 acres to be designated for mining of which about 330 acres will actually be mined.

Cemex plans to install a conveyor belt leading from the new area to Cemex's existing processing plant three miles away, north of Fort Dade so that no rock-hauling trucks will travel State Road 50 or Fort Dade Avenue. Blasting would occur once or twice weekly.

If Cemex is successful in getting the county to amend its future land use map, it would be one of the biggest mining expansions in years.{/reg}