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CEMEX's Davenport Plant Receives Top Environmental Award

Houston - March 21, 2007

At a ceremony on March 19, 2007, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement America's Magazine recognized CEMEX's cement operations in Davenport, Calif. with the Land Stewardship Award for demonstrating superior land conservation and environmental stewardship practices on its 10,000 acres located in Santa Cruz County, California. The award is one of the highest environmental honors in the industry.

The plant successfully continues exemplary land restoration projects, such as the reclamation in the Davenport shale and limestone quarries. Each year, the people of the Davenport plant perform habitat restoration and re-vegetation with native trees, perform exotic weed control and exotic tree removal in order to enhance growth of native habits and species, and retain a professional landscape architect to manage the program. They also have created a large forested buffer area around the quarry operation for screening and buffering the neighboring rural community.

"We are honored to receive this award. This is much more than a title to CEMEX and our Davenport facility. It is a pronounced way of running our operations," said Gilberto Perez, President of CEMEX USA. "For 100 years, the Davenport plant has been a guardian of the Santa Cruz north coast and 9,000 acres of forestland in the state of California. Through these practices and new ones, we intend to keep this commitment to the community and the environment."

The plant's promotion of biodiversity and wildlife conservation was noted among the best in the nation. The CEMEX property provides special habitat for a variety of wildlife, mammals and bird species, and is home to several endangered and threatened species. CEMEX has set aside ponds and wetlands for breeding and protection areas for the California Red-legged frog. In addition, in 2006, a portion of the proposed mining operation was determined to be a habitat for the San Francisco Dusky-Footed Woodrat, a California species of concern. CEMEX land provides a habitat area for this woodrat and also uses the area for other wildlife habitat conservation. In 2006, the Davenport plant initiated a program that seeks certification in the Wildlife Habitat Council's Wildlife at Work program to enhance wildlife habitat on CEMEX property and to raise environmental awareness with employees and the community.

CEMEX's property serves as a vital watershed for Davenport and New Town, providing for their raw water needs from San Vincente and Mill Creeks. Every year, CEMEX Davenport contributes $160,000 to fund half the cost for Santa Cruz County to treat the community's water and sewage, and provides up to $25,000 to fund capital projects related to the system.

Recent site beautification efforts have included enhancing the entranceway and grounds with additional flowers, shrubs and trees. Eight large storage silos were demolished to improve the aesthetics.

The Davenport cement plant was also named a finalist for the PCA's Community Outreach category for demonstrating extraordinary efforts in community stewardship activities undertaken in the past year and as a finalist for the Overall Environmental Award for exemplifying the plant's commitment to the environment and energy efficiency conservation.

CEMEX is a growing global building solutions company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.

Contact Information:

Media Contact
Susana A. Duarte
(713) 650-6200