According to KSL TV 5 in Salt Lake City, Draper City and Geneva Rock continue not seeing eye to eye when it comes to Geneva Rock’s request to expand its mining operations at the Point of the Mountain Quarry. The company’s last proposal on mining operations was rejected less than two years ago. Arguments were presented from both sides at a public hearing. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining also weighed in on the conversation. Geneva Rock said they want to mine in an area of Draper they believe has infrastructure resources crucial to roads and schools. The city of Draper claims mining would be a disruption to the residents who live in the area. It also said it could pose health and safety hazards. Meanwhile, city officials claim the company has not taken the proper legal steps to expand its mining efforts in the first place. For now, the city is requesting the Department of Natural Resources to step up and say no to Geneva Rock’s request.
According to centralmaine.com, local officials have asked the owners of a company looking to operate a sand and gravel mining operation in Winthrop, Maine, for more information before deciding whether to allow the project to move forward. The proposal by Lewiston, Maine-based L/A Properties LLC has generated controversy among residents, who say the blasting and crushing of rocks would create dust that could cause health problems if inhaled and might be harmful to local waterways. The Winthrop planning board voted 5-2 to table a decision on the company’s permit for a gravel pit on the eastern side of Turkey Lane. While the property west of Turkey Lane has not been quarried, the property on the eastern side has been used as a gravel pit. L/A Properties is attempting to reestablish– and expand – the gravel pit that was first licensed in 1987 by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The company plans to crush and store rocks at the site after blasting and extracting them from the quarry, which would be across the street, on the western side of Turkey Lane. It is unclear when the planning board will take up the matter again.
According to the Journal-Advocate, plans to mine gravel east of an old sugar factory in Sterling, Colo., was put on hold while the permit applicants spend more time talking with neighbors in the area. Stratus Sterling LLC appeared before the Logan County board of commissioners during a public hearing on Stratus Sterling’s special use permit to mine the gravel. During that hearing, opponents voiced concerns about water appropriations, reclamation, impact on roads in the area and security. The commissioners tabled the permit request to give the company time to talk with neighboring landowners.