Cushenbury Mine Expansion

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued Incidental Take Permit No. 1927-ITP-2024-083-06 to Mitsubishi Cement Corporation for the Cushenbury Mine Project in San Bernardino County. The project involves the development of the South Quarry and West Pit for limestone mining across 278.2 acres, including site clearing, grading, excavation, vegetation removal, blasting, and the construction of temporary and permanent haul roads. The South Quarry is expected to be developed over a 120-year period, while the West Pit is currently underway and anticipated to continue for several decades. The permit authorizes the incidental take of 2,896 western Joshua trees, which are protected under the California Endangered Species Act and the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. As a condition of approval, the project must adhere to a Mitigation Reporting or Monitoring Plan and additional mitigation measures adopted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project is located in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of State Highway 18 and north of Marble Canyon Road, with administrative oversight provided by the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Inland Deserts Region.