Save New Milford

By Staci Wilson  01/16/2008

The Pennsylvania Department of Enviromental Protection (DEP) ordered B.S. Quarries to halt operations at its Lanesboro bluestone site until land reclamation is complete and a new permit application is approved addressing previous site violations, according to a January 8, DEP press release.

DEP wants the five small non-coal mining permits the agency had previously approved to be replaced by a large industrial mineral permit at the site. According to the release, the site is to remain idle until a large permit is issued and states: “If the company does not pursue the large industrial mineral permit in a timely manner, the Lanesboro operation must be reclaimed completely.”

This is the public header from a copyrighted story in the Susquehanna Independent Weekender. Click to their website to read the entire story.

B.S. Quarries Facility Operated Outside Permitted Area at Lanesboro Site

HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered B.S. Quarries Inc. to halt quarrying operations at its Lanesboro Quarry until required land reclamation is complete and a new permit application is approved that addresses previous site violations.
According to the order, the site in Lanesboro Borough and Harmony Township is to remain idle until a new, large industrial mineral permit is issued that replaces five smaller permits DEP had previously approved. If the company does not pursue the large industrial mineral permit in a timely manner, the Lanesboro operation must be reclaimed completely.

“B.S. Quarries conducted mining activities on nine acres beyond the area they were permitted to mine and it repeatedly failed to bring its operation into compliance with state regulations for industrial mineral mining on this larger site,” said DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty. “However, as soon as the company provides us with evidence it can conduct quarrying in an environmentally responsible manner, B.S. Quarries has an opportunity to resume its operations at this site, and we remain prepared to work with the company to make this happen.”

B.S. Quarries’ five small industrial mineral permits covered 25 acres, yet the company conducted mining activities on 34 acres. The company mined bluestone at the Lanesboro quarry, which is used for patios, counter tops, walls and other construction purposes.

In areas outside of the 25 acres, the company was found to have cast large volumes of overburden material, like waste rock and soil, down slope and outside of the permitted area. Regulations require this material to be stored within the permitted mining area until it is used to reclaim the site.

The department also cited numerous deficiencies at the Lanesboro site, which must be addressed in a new permit application before any work can resume. These operational shortcomings, most of which were first noted in early 2006, include a failure to provide engineering calculations for erosion and sedimentation controls and the lack of a comprehensive reclamation plan.

An application for the single, larger permit must be submitted to DEP within 90 days, and B.S. Quarries must also post adequate reclamation bond before resuming quarrying.

The ethical quarry operator plays by the rules…
by Al Robbins of New Milford, PA

.. observes environmental and safety regulations, operates only within the defined areas and conditions of their permit, cares about their impact on the community and environment, competes fairly and lawfully hires local labor at prevailing rates.

They are the majority in Susquehanna County. They rightfully take pride in their stone and produce the best quality product available.

This is the public header from a copyrighted story in the Susquehanna Independent Weekender. Click to their website to read the entire story.

by Anita Ambrose of New Milford, PA

There is a thread that runs so rich and deep throughout the state of Pennsylvania you simply cannot help but be captivated by its intense beauty and richness.  I hear people talk about ‘outsiders’.  I’ve lived my life all over the United States.  When people would ask, “Where are you from,” I felt like saying, “I’m not really from anywhere”.  As I got older, I felt just the opposite; I’m from everywhere. 

I saw Pennsylvania for the first time when I was 19.  It was love at first sight, and so it was with the Pennsylvania boy I married, Jim.  Now I have lived two-thirds of my life in PA.  I am a permanent fixture.  Jim and I live in a home surrounded by forest in New Milford township.  It is full of treasures provided by Mother Nature—great inspiration for our life and our art business.

Then, what seemed like ‘all of a sudden’, a rumbling began in our neighborhoods and in our magnificent mountains….It was the sound of dynamite explosions, hundreds of huge trucks (per day) on roads that are caving in under the tonnage they are having to bear.  There are homes where residents can’t sleep, can’t breath, can’t open their windows, can’t escape the huge plumes of dirt and dust filling the air, can’t feel any safety in their children waiting for a schoolbus.  Wells are becoming questionable—some no longer fit for drinking or bathing water.  There are people having nightmares of a business operating with no permits on most of the acres they are working.  No effort made to keep their work clean, compatible, healthy or digestible by anyone living in New Milford Township.  No research done regarding impact on people, homes, water, plants, birds or the impact on our existing hazardous waste site (Lyncott Landfill) that’s only a little over 1 mile away.  No research of impact of heavy rainfall, huge accumulations of sludge oozing over the sides of the work site.  No research on usage of huge volumes of our local water supplies needed to operate machines. No research in the changes which will surely be affected in our aquifers where our beautifully natural pure water runs. 

This reads like a bad movie, and this bad movie has not ended.  We have not averted these problems by the withdrawal of the BS Quarries application. They intend to reapply in the near future.  I have talked to my neighbors whose family history is steeped in mining and quarrying.  I honor that heritage.  All you have to do is check your topography maps to see that there has been quarrying all around us.  The only way this ‘bad movie’ can have a happy ending is to have everyone speak, listen, learn, attend meetings, share thoughts and ideas with neighbors.  All of these things are wonderful to do even if there isn’t an ongoing catastrophe in our midst.

Two days ago I watched a PBS show called ‘Hope for Polluted Waters”.  It was magnificent.  One man founded the beginning of the still ongoing reclamation of our rivers and steams—one man who loved Pennsylvania and his fly fishing.  He says it’s taking a long time to reclaim what mining and quarrying have destroyed.  He noted with this huge effort has come a huge influx of tourism and income to our state.  Let’s work hard to keep our natural wonders in tact and still have mining as part of our heritage, keeping it as clean as possible and properly done.

I pray every day for all of the New Milford residents, our local and federal representatives, and I pray for all of the quarry people.  All of us are suffering.

The power of ‘1′ is huge.  It starts and ends with you and me.

Anita Ambrose

this article is a reprint of from the DEP website. Please click to that website for further information.

Mining Hazards & Problems

The most common complaints from residents living near to a quarry are:

• Dust
• Truck traffic
• Noise
• Blasts
• Loss or degradation of water supply
• Stream effects
• Sinkholes

Generally, quarries can be good neighbors in their community and provide valuable services and products but many people don’t want a quarry in their backyard because they are concerned about the issues listed above.

Dust. Disturbing the surface and breaking rock causes dust. A quarry operation must have procedures in place to contain the dust and not allow it to become a problem off the site. Dust control measures are described in the permit documents. Some municipalities require truck beds to be covered with tarp which cuts down on dust during transport. Traffic, wind and certain soil conditions also create dust problems. But, if you have a concern that a quarry is causing the dust problem, you may file a complaint with the District Office that serves your area.

Truck traffic. Haul trucks can be bothersome on local roads. However, if the road is capable of supporting the size and weight requirements, these vehicles have a right to use the roads. Once the trucks leave the permitted site, the DEP has no further jurisdiction to stop them or control the traffic. DEP does not regulate truck traffic and the permits do not contain any restrictions on it. A complaint regarding truck traffic must be directed to the entity that owns and maintains the roadway (municipality or PennDOT).

Noise. Noise can also be a nuisance to nearby residents. There are several noise-reducing strategies that the operator can take advantage of to lessen the effect. Often noise complaints are brought up during public meetings. While the DEP does not have very specific regulations on noise, we cooperate in helping the operator satisfy the surrounding residents.

Blasts. Explosives are highly regulated in Pennsylvania. Quarry blasts must be designed to meet limits for noise, air blast and ground vibration. However, some people are disturbed by blasts that do not actually cause damage. Additional measures can be taken to lessen the effects from blasting. Certain weather conditions or location of the blast in the quarry can make one blast feel worse than another. If you suspect blasting has damaged a structure, please contact the District Mining Office. For more, see the fact sheet “Citizen’s Guide to Explosive Regulations in Pennsylvania”

Loss or degradation of water supply. Quarries that pump groundwater may have a detrimental effect on surrounding wells and springs. The extent of the effect is evaluated in the permit application. Then, measuring of the groundwater levels takes place to monitor the changes. It is not illegal for the quarry company to compromise a water supply but they must replace it if they affect it. For more information, see the fact sheet “Quarries and Your Water Supply”. If you feel your water supply has been negatively affected due to mining activity, please contact the District Mining Office.

Stream effects. Many quarries must discharge excess water in order to remain operational. The water can accumulate because of mining below the groundwater elevation or it can collect in the pit after a precipitation event. To eliminate that water, a discharge permit might be part of the mining permit. A federal discharge permit, called an NPDES (National Pollutional Discharge Elimination System) permit is incorporated. The discharge must be within range for quantity and quality specified in the permit. Both the operator and the mining inspector collect regular samples. If you believe that the quarry discharge is degrading a stream or is not meeting the effluent requirements, the DEP will send an inspector to sample the water.

Sinkholes. Limestone quarries that pump groundwater can potentially induce sinkholes to form around the quarry area, especially where surface water runoff or stream flow occurs. If mining activity is found to be responsible, quarries are required to repair the holes that form. However, if structural damage occurs, the DEP does not have the legal authority to demand that the operator replace the structure or pay damages. Sinkholes can form for various reasons unrelated to quarries. If you live in a sinkhole-prone area, you should be aware of the best practices for handling stormwater runoff in karst areas and carry a provision for sinkhole insurance on your homeowner’s policy. If you have a sinkhole occur that you feel is a result of quarry activity, please contact the District Mining Office whereby a hydrogeologist will investigate the incident. For more on sinkholes, visit the sinkhole page or view this publication - Sinkholes.

Hazards that may occur in quarries are highwall failures, accidents or spills.

• A responsible quarry company takes precautions to protect the workers and surrounding community but accidents occur. DEP will investigate industrial accidents at the site, along with federal inspectors.
• Highwalls can be dangerous if trespassers are careless. Fencing is not required under regulations. Berms are required  - they must be high enough to provide a visual and physical barrier surrounding the quarry and in various places within it. Sometimes, highwalls fail and a rock fall or slide results. DEP inspectors and technical staff consider and examine the stability of highwalls during site visits and within the mining plans. Occasionally, geology, weather, and/or surrounding conditions combine in such a way that unexpected failures occur. These are rare.
• Abandoned quarries and even some active quarries may contain areas of deep, cold water that are dangerous for swimmers. Quarries are unsafe areas for trespassers. Remember: Stay Out. Stay Alive.
• Spills of hazardous materials are also rare. Industrial sites using hazardous materials have response plans in case of spills.

If you suspect a highwall is in a dangerous condition, please contact the District Mining Office and a geologist and engineer will investigate. If you must report an accident, spill or other emergency, please call 911 and DEP emergency response will be notified.