Phase-out of Cemex Lapis sand plant approved

The California State Lands Commission has unanimously approved the phase out of operations at Cemex’s Lapis sand plant.

This agreement reflects a settlement of disputes with the State Lands Commission, California Coastal Commission and the City of Marina over the historical operations of the more than 110-year old Lapis sand plant. The plant's dredge mining operation will be phased out by the end of 2020 and all plant operations will cease in 2023.

As part of this resolution, Cemex has withdrawn its filings detailing multiple reviews of the Lapis sand plant operations by various regulatory agencies over the past 50 years.  The reviews all failed to raise any of the concerns or alleged violations recently brought forth by the State Lands Commission, the City and the Coastal Commission.

"Cemex is committed to caring for our employees, our communities and the environment.  We believe this agreement honors those fundamental principles," said Eric Wittmann, Cemex USA Region President - West Region.  "The agreement balances the interests of all the stakeholders of the Lapis operation, including our employees, suppliers, customers and the community."

The Lapis plant is located on approximately 400 acres with more than a mile of ocean front in Marin (CA) and has remained a fixture of the Central California Coast since 1906.  The sand provided by the plant has been used in countless California infrastructure projects, as well as environmentally-beneficial programmes such as water treatment and even by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Lapis sand continues to be a key component of a unique concrete product specified by CalTrans for use in bridge roadways to enhance safety.