Black Mountain Sand Receives a Certificate of Inclusion into the Texas Conservation Plan

FORT WORTH, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Black Mountain Sand LLC (“Black Mountain” or the “Company”) announced
that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, in conjunction with U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has granted its Vest and El Dorado
frac sand mines together a Certificate of Inclusion into the Texas
Conservation Plan (TCP) for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL). Black
Mountain is one of the only sand miners expected to receive a
Certificate, the product of several months of diligence, planning, and
coordination with the Texas Comptroller’s office. Black Mountain’s
proactive property management and conservation measures will protect it
and its customers from potential disruptions to Permian Basin frac sand
mining.

The DSL is indigenous to the shinnery oak dunes of southeastern New
Mexico and West Texas. USFWS proposed listing the DSL as an endangered
species in 2010 amid worries that oil and gas activity within the
Permian Basin could threaten the species’ survival. In June 2012 the
Texas Conservation Plan was formed through a state-led voluntary
conservation effort. This landmark agreement encourages property owners
to enroll land within the plan in exchange for coverage if the DSL is
listed under the enhancement of survival permits pursuant to Section
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act.

Black Mountain recognized early the importance of this issue and how, if
handled poorly, it could jeopardize not only frac sand mining
activities, but also the progress made by existing Permian Basin
stakeholders. Prior to entering the Texas Conservation Plan, Black
Mountain committed to limiting its mining plans to areas completely
outside of the mapped habitat established in 2012. Now, with entry into
the TCP it has also agreed to fund research, dedicate acreage to a
conservation easement, and conduct its mining operations by an agreed
upon, environmentally sensitive protocol.

“We intend to be here for the next 30 years,” commented Rhett Bennett,
Black Mountain Chief Executive Officer. “We want to be good neighbors,
and thoughtful contributors to the community and the issues it faces.”

Dr. Robert Gulley, Director of Economic Growth & Endangered Species
Management for the Texas Comptroller’s office, said, “This is a great
example of the Texas Conservation Plan working as it was intended.
Through voluntary enrollment and disciplined stewardship, we will
preserve economic activity and protect the dunes sagebrush lizard’s
habitat.”

About Black Mountain Sand

Black Mountain Sand is an NGP-backed sand supplier with nearly 30,000
acres accumulated within Winkler County. Its two frac sand mines, Vest
and El Dorado, are on track to be in-service in December and January,
respectively. The Company’s in-basin product, Winkler White™, provides a
high quality, cost-effective proppant solution to meet the demands of
the Permian Basin. For more information, visit www.blackmountainsand.com.

Contacts

Black Mountain Sand LLC
Hayden Gillespie, 817-698-9901
Chief
Commercial Officer
[email protected]