Reports From Pennsylvania, Utah, New Jersey, Ontario

  • A company planning to mine for sand and gravel in New Beaver, Pa., is taking court action after the borough denied its application in September, according to the Beaver County Times. New Beaver Council denied New Galilee-based Three Rivers Aggregates’ conditional use request in a 6-1 vote following public opposition and lingering questions. Developers filed the appeal in Lawrence County Court.
  • A proposed limestone quarry in Parley’s Canyon in Utah might not see the light of day, if a proposed ordinance change from the Salt Lake County Council goes through, according to KSL NewsRadio. County leaders are considering a change to their forestry zoning rules. Some opponents of the proposed quarry believe it will do irreparable harm to the mountains near Grandeur Peak. The Notice of Intent filed by Tree Farm LLC would allow for half a million tons of limestone and other minerals to be extracted from the area every year within the first three to five years of operations. After that, crews would be able to extract 2 million tpy.
  • Mayor Matt Moench said that as long the Stavola Quarry in Bridgewater, N.J., follows state rules, “our hands are tied” about the blasting that has generated complaints from nearby residents, according to mycentraljersey.com. “At the end of the day, we can’t stop them from mining,” the mayor told residents who attended a township council meeting to hear a Stavola representative deliver a presentation on the quarry’s activities before the council voted to renew its quarry mining license. “There is no magic solution,” Moench said, adding the township is “not ignoring” the complaints.
  • Residents of Elmvale, Ontario, Canada, said a Dufferin Aggregates quarry is polluting groundwater, according to the CDC. When reached for comment, Dufferin Aggregates said in a statement that it takes pride in being a responsible custodian of the natural environment in the communities it operates in across Ontario, “including minimizing water use through reduction, reuse, and recycling measures wherever possible.” The company added its operations are in line with all legal and environmental requirements. 

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