Calhoun County, AL – Calhoun County, Alabama – Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has set a public hearing for the proposed quarrying of rocks close to the entrance to Cheaha State Park in Anniston. The announcement comes following the extension of the time frame for public comments in response to the increasing concerns of residents who live near Oxford as well as Heflin.
The rock quarry proposed which is requested from Pillar Materials LLC has created a wave anxiety in the local community. The residents are worried about everything from environmental impacts to noise pollution, and pollution in drinking water supplies. Particularly concerning are potential effects on plants and animal life due to the proximity of reservoirs and areas of residential which could be affected by higher noise levels.
Residents have expressed their anger and expressed their dismay at the proposed project when they became aware of the project just when they were coming to an end. To remedy this, the public comments period was extended to December 22 giving residents an additional opportunity to express their opinions and opinions. Comments can be made online through this website or by post.
A public hearing regarding the permit application for quarry has been scheduled for January 23 from 6 p.m. The hearing will be held on the Oxford Civic Center located at 401 McCullars Lane in Oxford. In this hearing, people will have the chance to address your concerns to ADEM officials.
Pillar Materials, LLC, is seeking an Air Permit as well as an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for the facility. Based on ADEM plans for permits to the quarry, its goal is to mine dolomite limestone.
In response to the increasing protests, residents have gathered and launched their own website noquarryinoxford.com to galvanize opposition to the quarry project. The site firmly communicates the belief that the quarry is not compatible with the surrounding area, specifically the proximity to many homes and the beloved Cider Ridge Golf Course, and beautiful hiking trails within the adjacent Talladega National Forest.
Residents are also asking concerns about the expected trucks, and insist that there is no traffic study to have been filed. The possibility of a large increase in trucks, particularly on Exit 191 is causing anxiety in the local residents. Residents are worried about the effects of large trucks loaded with rocks on the local roads, and if the infrastructure will be able to be able to handle the load.
Environmentalists are also voicing concerns about the possibility of pollution from close Coosa River tributaries, specifically Jackson and Choccolocco Creeks. As the date for the public hearing draws near however, the community continues to participate in a concerted effort to ensure that their concerns are considered by the regulatory authorities.
