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Comment Period and Public Hearing set for North Mountain Shale Quarry in Berkeley County
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by Paul Wilson, Barb Miller and Wendy Hudock |
2008
North Mountain Shale Hoping to Open “North Mountain Quarry” in Gerrardstown
On January 16, 2008, the WV Department of Environmental Protection received a “Field Review Site Questionnaire” from North Mountain Shale, LLC (a subsidiary of Continental Brick Company). This review, complete with site map and permitting information details the preliminary expectations of NMS to conduct a mineral extraction operation in what they’ve named North Mountain Quarry. This document indicates their intent to perform surface mining on the land purchases by Continental Brick in January, 2008. The preliminary proposal covers 246 acres including the following:
o 198 acres to be utilized for “Mineral Extraction”.
o 32 acres (INCLUDING the area in which the Nationally Historically Registered Property “Oban Hall” is located) to be used for “Spoil Shop”.
o 2 acre “Haul Road”.
o 14 acres for drainage.
Please use the following talking points for your letters and/or public testimony.
TALKING POINTS: Local Environment & Historical Properties in Jeopardy:
o North Mountain Shale’s “Field Review Site Questionnaire” indicates that there are no “known archeological or historical sites within 1,000 feet of the permit area”. This information is not correct. The “farmhouse” indicated on the site map as being part of the area to be utilized as “spoil shop” is the historically registered home, Oban Hall. Oban Hall was built in 1825 by William Wilson. Mr. Wilson built Oban Hall, also known as the Stone House Farm or Mary Park Wilson House and left the home in his will for his wife, Mary. Mr. Wilson owned several stores from Gerrardstown to Baltimore including one that he operated from his home, Prospect Hill which sits on adjacent land to the parcel purchased by Continental Brick .Oban Hall is a beautiful creek-stone, 2-story Federal building that boasts 4 marble fireplaces and is still architecturally sound. While the home still stands at present, no one can be sure what NMS will do with this building in the middle of their potential quarrying operation. o The Mt. Pleasant School/Mt. Olive Church also sits on land directly adjacent to the potential mineral extraction site. This former church/school was built by a community of 50 black freedmen in 1897. The West Virginia Division of Culture and History states that this site “may contain associated archaeological deposits, unmarked graves and ruins.” The Division feels that there are at least “six historical structures present or adjacent to the site.”
o Gerrardstown Presbyterian church, which also borders the North Mountain Shale property, contains the gravesite of President Abraham Lincoln’s former bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon.
o Vast quantities of water needed for Shale mining will be pumped from the same aquifer that all local resident use. In addition, new developments in the Gerrardstown area will be dependent on the same sources of water. The destruction of the Mill Creek watershed from silt and contamination of mining is an eminent threat.
o Silicosis is a dust related lung disease that is common around mining due to dust. The proposed site is located extremely close to 2 schools with heavy winds year round.
Public Comment Period: The DEP has designated the 30 day comment period from April 10th to May 10th as the “public comment period” wherein they will accept written comments in response to this permit request.
All written comments should be sent to:
Director, Division of Water and Waste Management, DEP
ATTN: Michelle Brenner, Permitting Section
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304-2345
According to DEP policy, all comments received during this period will be considered prior to acting on the permit application. Correspondence should include the name, address and the telephone number of the writer and a concise statement of the nature of the issues raised.
May 14th Public Hearing on Permit at James Rumsey Technical Institute:
James Rumsey Technical Institute on Rt. 9 in Hedgesville will be the site of the DEP’s public comment hearing on Wednesday, May 14th starting at 6:00PM. Please come and sign up to speak against this project.
Anyone wishing to offer oral comments will be allowed to do so under the following guidelines:
• When you enter the meeting place there will be sign-in sheets at the door. Make note on the sign-in sheet if you wish to make a comment.
• When the meeting begins, all comments will be audio taped during the meeting. You may also hand in written material or documentation.
• The DEP officials will welcome you to the meeting, introduce themselves, and explain the purpose of the hearing or meeting.
• A DEP permit writer or engineer will summarize the proposed permit.• After the proposed permit has been explained, the comment period deadline will be announced, and names of those wishing to make comments will be called.Sometimes the comment period ends at the end of the hearing, and sometimes it may be extended slightly to receive additional written comments.
• When your name is called, come to the front of the room and speak into the microphone, or as close as possible to the audio equipment, so your voice will be recorded.
• When making comments, be courteous to your fellow citizens and keep your comments concise and to the point. The hearing facilitator may limit the time you have to make comments, depending on how many participants are there.
• After all of the names have been called from the sign-in sheets, then others in attendance will also be allotted time for comments.
• When all oral comments have been submitted, the meeting will be adjourned and the audio recording equipment turned off.
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