From dust particle pollution, water quality, and noise disturbances to potentially diminishing property value, the public hearing allowed the community to hear from experts on the project along with Three Rivers Aggregates reps.
Mercer Co. residents are concerned over sand and gravel quarries looking to open in Springfield Township.
Three Rivers Aggregates, a sand and gravel company that currently operates three facilities in Slippery Rock and Wapum, PA., plans to open three new locations in Springfield Township in Mercer County.
A hearing date to discuss the request by Three Rivers Aggregates to operate a sand and gravel surface mine with mineral extraction on nearly 8 acres located at 34 North Holstein Lane, Grove City, on approximately 42 acres on Pine Road, Grove City and approximately 71 acres located at 87 North Holstein Lane, Grove City took place for the proposed sand/gravel mining operation Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Springfield Twp. Municipal Building.
In July, the Springfield Township Zoning Hearing Board held a public hearing to consider the variance application of Three Rivers Aggregates by company president Mark McClymonds to change the zoning for the proposed facilities from agricultural to commercial for the North Holstein Lane and Pine Road locations along with a public hearing.
From dust particle pollution, water quality, and noise disturbances to potentially diminishing property value, the public hearing allowed the community to hear from experts on the project along with Three Rivers Aggregates reps.
A neighbor of the Pine Road proposed location, Carolyn Moore, told 21 News that she and nearby neighbors have been meeting to discuss their concerns about having a quarry beside their homes, including their health and water concerns.
Moore said she and her next-door neighbor already have lung issues and fear that the silica dust will be a health concern for them.
"My doctors say if I'm subjected to that [silica dust], it could be detrimental to my health. I don't want to die," Moore said to 21 News.
Moore also said that the neighbors who meet at her house to discuss the proposed facilities also have concerns over their water supply which comes from wells.
Robin Guasta just moved from New York last year to get out of the big city pollution.
"I would not have bought the house if I knew that I was going to live near a quarry," Guasta told 21 News. "We had to have a new well dug because our last well caved in. So, if this well comes up dry or polluted, how am I going to live in my house?"
According to the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration website and the CDC website, respirable crystalline silica is created when cutting, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust are at increased risk of developing silicosis, a lung disease, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, lung cancer, or kidney disease.
"I have 100 acres," explained John Ayars of Lee Road. "My house, and many of the houses, including the outlet mall are literally built over top of underground coal mines that are hundreds of years old that are stuck up with old boards. I'm concerned if people's houses start settling and cracking."
Karen Mullin operates Fair Haven Farms and fears this could hurt her business.
"We bring in not only business for ourselves but business for the restaurants, the hotels, the stores, we bring in hundreds of people that go and shop," Mullin said. "It's really going to hurt all of the businesses in the area."
Concerns linger as no decision was made Wednesday. The township is expected to make a decision on the quarries by the end of the year.