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At a continued public hearing Thursday, the Boulder County Planning Commission recommended denial of CEMEX’s application to continue mining for 15 years at the Dowe Flats Quarry east of Lyons.

The Planning Commission provides recommendations to the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners, which will make the final determination about the company’s application.

Although its decision was unanimous, the commission struggled at times to reach a vote.

In addition to its mining operation at Dowe Flats, which is north of Colo 66, CEMEX runs a cement plant just south of the highway.

As part of its application, the global building materials company has agreed to shutter its cement plant at the same time its mining operation would conclude in 2037.

“It’s a super tough decision,” said Planning Commission Chairman Mark Bloomfield. “I think losing the guarantee of closing the plant in 15 years is a huge deal.”

Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting was a continuation from Aug. 17, when the commission listened to several hours of public testimony from people who opposed CEMEX’s application but held off on making any sort of recommendation.

The commission wanted more information, namely why CEMEX was requesting a 15-year extension.

Trpimir Renic, CEMEX USA executive vice president, strategic planning, said during Thursday’s hearing that Dowe Flats had far more than 15-years worth of mineable resources available.

Renic also made clear that CEMEX could continue to operate its CEMENT plant even if its mining operation at Dowe Flats shuttered by trucking in materials from outside locations.

“We do always try and consume the raw materials that are available to us at the existing site where we are currently operating,” Renic said. “We think that operating that quarry for the next 15 years — supplying Lyons Cement Plant — is the most responsible resource management operation that we can undertake.”

In 1994, the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners granted CEMEX a special use permit to mine at the Dowe Flats Quarry for 25 years.

Unless extended, CEMEX’s permit will expire later this year.

The Planning Commission did not accept verbal public comment during Thursday’s meeting because it determined that not enough new information had been presented to warrant doing so.

Commissioners stressed that public comment would be taken again when the Board of County Commissioners reviewed CEMEX’s application Sept. 14.

A global building materials company, CEMEX operates 10 cement plants and about 50 cement terminals across its U.S. network that extends to Boulder County.

In a statement after Thursday’s meeting, Sarah Lorang, who is a member of the citizen group Good Neighbors of Lyons, said they were pleased with the commission’s ultimate recommendation.

“It was a deal that clearly did not reflect the wishes of the local community,” Lorang said. “We look forward to the county commissioners following suit and denying the application on Sept. 14th, so we can move forward and jointly negotiate a new proposal between the town of Lyons, Boulder County, and CEMEX that will work for everyone.”

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