Permitting – April 2015


McCook Subject to Seismic Monitoring

Northwestern University researchers will continue monitoring blasting operations at Hanson Material Service’s quarry in McCook, Ill. Scientists have been recording seismic activity since last year in two locations, but data is insufficient so far to present a report, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Village officials wanted to make residents aware blasting will resume after it was suspended for the winter. When blasts start up again depends on the weather.

The need for additional data was prompted by a quarry blast and a 3.2 magnitude seismic event seven seconds later that shook the western suburbs on Nov. 4, 2013.

An analysis by Northwestern University, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in March 2014 didn’t determine a causal relationship between the two events.

Before blasting resumed March 17 at the quarry, additional monitoring equipment was set up at Sedgwick Park, southwest of 47th Street and East Avenue, to obtain baseline information for surrounding homes in La Grange, Ill.

Although some information was obtained, researchers determined a protective enclosure was needed for the equipment closer to the blasting.

The goal of the data collection and analysis is to explain why the two events of Nov. 4, 2013, occurred and what might be done to avoid that, based on geologic and weather factors.


Underground Mine Still Working On Permits

Plans filed by Martin Marietta to build an underground limestone mine in Anderson Township, Ohio, continue to be the subject of courtroom documents, according to cincinnati.com.

Anderson Township Board of Trustees is appealing the October 2014, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas decision of Judge Robert Ruehlman with regard to Martin Marietta’s subsurface mining application.

Judge Ruehlman ruled the second Anderson Township Board of Zoning Appeals decision was illegal and reversed it. The township is appealing this decision before the 1st District Court of Appeals.

While the case has been in and out of the court system since 2010, this is the first time that the Anderson Township Board of Trustees has appealed a decision.

A press release issued by Anderson township on Feb. 26 stated, “Anderson Township Trustees are striving to uphold the local zoning authority of our home rule township, as well as the rights and powers of the Anderson Township Board of Zoning Appeals, by appealing the Court of Common Pleas decision.”

The trustees are joined in their appeal by the Ohio Township Association and the Coalition of Large Ohio Urban Townships. The release stated, “Both of these organizations have filed amicus briefs in an effort to retain local zoning autonomy and to support the thousands of other township BZA members across the state of Ohio.”

The township filed its appeal Feb. 26. The mine opposition group was expected to file a response brief by late March.


Millington Quarry Permit Denied

Millington Quarry, in Basking Ridge, N.J., has been denied a renewal of its operating license by the Township Committee, according to the Bernardsville News. In an unprecedented move – and with virtually no explanation – the Township Committee in a split 3-2 vote in late February rejected the annual license for the site, which has been in business in the town since 1897.

Millington Quarry, which mined the site for nearly 20 years before leasing it to Tilcon New York in 1999, had previously indicated it would like to resume mining now that Tilcon has left the site.

Voting to reject the license at a meeting on Feb. 24 were Mayor John Malay and committee members Carol Bianchi and Thomas Russo Jr. Committee members John Carpenter and Carolyn Gaziano voted for renewal.

When a motion for a vote was called, Malay was the only member of the governing body to comment. “I have issues with the whole operation of what’s going on over there,” he said.

After the license was denied, Township Attorney John Belardo told the committee, “Someone will need to inform the quarry they have no right to operate as of tomorrow.”

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