PERMITTING – DECEMBER 2018


Colorado Quarry Begins Exploratory Drilling

The Bureau of Land Management authorized a limestone quarry north of Glenwood Springs, Colo., to drill 15 exploratory holes to search for additional mineral resources, prompting concerns about a lack of public involvement in the federal agency’s decision-making process on the controversial quarry.

Rocky Mountain Resource Management has begun exploratory drilling after the BLM order dated Oct. 12 authorized “up to 15 drill holes, each no more than 200 ft. deep, within three possible areas inside the existing disturbance of the quarry,” to search for dolomite.

The Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance, which a community group formed to fight a planned quarry expansion, is concerned that the BLM is keeping the public in the dark, and questioned BLM’s reason for bypassing a more extensive study of the impacts of the exploratory drilling, according to the Poet Independent.


East Rockhill Quarry Deal on Hold

According to the Bucks County Courier Times, East Rockhill, Pa., officials have walked away from settlement talks with the owners and operators of the East Rockhill quarry, according to court filings and a notice posted on the township’s website.

“After discussions with the federal court judge and counsel for the quarry operator, the East Rockhill Township board of supervisors have notified the court and the quarry operator that proposals to settle the federal court case and pending Zoning Hearing Board matters have been rejected by the Township,” said a notice posted last month.

The legal wranglings revolve around the re-opening of the Rockhill Quarry. The site, located in a heavily wooded section north of the Pennridge Airport, was dormant dating back to the 1980s before extensive work began again last December.

Operator R.E. Pierson Construction, of Pilesgrove, N.J, has leased the site from Hanson Aggregates of Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement. Pierson last year obtained a $224 million contract from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to provide asphalt for a 7-mile project on the Northeast Extension.


Canadian Quarry Permit Denied

The Town of St. Lawrence, New Foundland, Canada, defeated a quarry permit request by St. Lawrence-based SP Excavating, according to The Southern Gazette.

During a recent council meeting, a request to put a quarry in an area near Old Corbin Road along Route 220 was made. Members of the council voiced their concerns on what having a quarry would mean to the aesthetics of the area as motorists drive into the town.

Councilor Amanda Slaney moved the motion but the other council members present did not second the motion.

Mayor Paul Pike ruled the motion defeated.


Kentucky Quarry Moves Forward Without Permit

After months of debate over a potential rock quarry opening in Calvert City, Ky., the company that wants to operate the quarry – Bailey Port – is moving forward with operation without a permit from the city, according to WPSD News in Paducah, KY.

Bailey Port’s attorney, Bradley Sears, gave a letter to the Calvert City board of adjustments to withdraw the company’s application for a permit. Sears said Bailey Port is relying on a state law that allows an operation already in business to continue to operate without a permit if it existed before zoning changes. From 2011 to 2013, Bailey Port said it spent around $800,000 on the quarry project and got approval from the state, all before Calvert City changed its zoning in 2017.

However, Calvert City leaders don’t see it that way. Mayor Lynn Jones said the city is currently reviewing the state law to see if the city’s zoning ordinance should apply to the quarry. If it doesn’t, the city might take legal action.

Bailey Port said it will return to full operation until it is told otherwise. Sears said the company plans to file a motion that would send the matter to circuit court to rule on whether the state statute applies to the quarry.

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