Cemex's extraction permit was initially annulled by the Appeals Court in Bordeaux in December 2010, but the case was taken to the Cassation Court before being approved by inter-prefectoral order, despite opposition from the Lahontan Council and L'Association de Défense et de Valorisation du Pays d'Abet.
Authorisation concerns 140hectares of existing plots, including 32hectares that has already been exploited. The remaining 90hectares will be extracted at a rate of 500,000tonnes/year until 31 December, 2036.
A land rehabilitation project has been designed in order to preserve species and limit the environmental impact of the quarry. The State also granted GSM authorisation to exploit a gravel mine in the area despite opposition.
