Thursday, June 20, 2013

Talking Points for 5-9-13


                    STOP THE

                    GRAVEL PIT

 

The mining operations and its parade of dump trucks will damage residents’ quality of life and affect their health. It will raise more dust, truck traffic and noise, lower property values, lower the water table and disturb the aquifer.

 

·        Robert Gilling 1470 Riversedge, Caro, MI  48723 wants to put a quarry/gravel/sand pit at 4165 Sheridan Road Vassar, MI – plain and simple.  This quarry/sand/gravel pit will be located next to residential property.

 

·        The land is currently zoned for AFR; Agriculture/Farming/Residential

 

·        It will disturb the quality of life for the present residents and taxpayers.

 

·        The effects of gravel/sand pits and quarries create loud noises from crushers and screen plants, and chronic dust emissions and pollution and lower property values thereby creating a public nuisance for those people unfortunate enough to live near such operations.

 

·        Heavy, loud machinery will be used at the quarry/gravel/sand pit.  This machinery includes front-end loaders, hydraulic excavators, conveyor systems, grizzly feeders, jaw crushers to pulverize stone, tractors and trucks in and out of the pit daily. 

 

·        Quarries/gravel/sand pits are notorious dust producers.  Most of the dust is fine and easily inhaled.  Sand is made up of Silica (quartz).  A fine layer of “fugitive dust” will cover everything in the vicinity of the quarry/pit.  Irritant dust that settles in the nose leads to rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane. Then the dust particles attack the larger air passages and causes inflammation of the trachea (tracheitis) and then bronchitis.  The most significant reactions of dust on the lung occur in the deepest parts of the lung when sand settles in the lungs.  Dust particles collect in the lung tissues, causing injury to the lungs.  These substances cause fibrous or scar tissue to form. With silica (sand) so much fibrous tissue and scarring form that lung function can be impaired. The fibrous tissue formation and scarring is called fibrosis. Another lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust is "pneumoconiosis." This simply means "dusty lung."

 

·        The quarry/gravel/sand pit will create pollution from fossil fuels from the gas and diesel fuels from machinery and trucks.

 

·        Quarries/gravel/sand mining can change ground water levels. Long-term implications of gravel mining can result in contaminated groundwater, which can affect well water that families rely upon. This contamination of groundwater can happen when the clay-rich sediment that seals the surface of an aquifer is broken. When these layers are exposed, they "serve as a conduit for contaminants into the entire aquifer" because the gravel pit "can also allow surface runoff containing extraneous chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and sewage, to enter the groundwater system.  Our wells and drinking water will be affected.  Quarries and pits that actively dewater may have impacts on neighboring wells and may lower the water table.

 

·        More traffic on the roads.  This will mean increased taxes to pay for the increased usage on the roads. 

 

·        The quarry/gravel/sand pit will mean more noise and traffic.

 

·        Neighborhoods near quarry/gravel/sand pits will have lower property values. 

 

·        The environmental effects of quarries/gravel/sand mining can include the loss of habitat for fish and wildlife. According to the Department of Environmental Quality, this property is a wetland.  A quarry/gravel/sand pit will destroy the environment and the wildlife that live there.

 

·        The quarry/gravel/sand pit will impact the quality of life that we currently enjoy.

 

·        The local board must realize they were elected to support and provide the local

citizens and taxpayers clean air and water, a healthy environment, support of wildlife, and protection of homes and property values.

 

QUESTIONS THE BOARD MUST ASK:

 

1.   Is the issuing of this permit in the best public interest?

2.   Would this permit disrupt the quality of life that the residents now enjoy?

3.   Would this permit lower property values of residents?

4.   Would this permit cause health problems to the residents?

5.   Would this permit create a traffic nuisance to the residents?

6.   Where does the true benefit of a gravel pit lie?

 

HAS THE BOARD ASKED FOR:

 

Topographic Map

One area of concern is the topography of a mining site. A map showing elevations, roads,

floodplains, property lines, and other natural and human-made features should be provided. It can be used to address runoff, flooding, and equipment storage area questions.

 

Geologic Map

A geologic map of the site is an important piece of information that should be supplied by the

mine operator. The information provided by a geologic map will provide answers to questions

about the deposit’s size and extent, geologic boundaries, clay or shale layers that are protecting

lower aquifers, and the amount of unusable material that will need to be stockpiled and stored at

the site.

 

Hydrologic Information

Assessing the potential impacts of mining operations on ground-water flow, wells, and surface

waters requires hydrologic information. The direction of ground-water flow in the deposit, the

location and construction of wells, and any surface-water bodies (streams, lakes, wetlands, and

springs) should be displayed on a map of the area at the appropriate scale. If the mine is to be

dewatered, the pumping point, volume, and discharge location should also be included. This

information will allow local government staff and mining companies to assess the impact a quarry or pit will have on adjacent wells and surface-water features.

 

 

 

 

 

Karst Information

Quarries/sand/gravel pits have some particular information needs due to their potential to affect water resources that are not immediately adjacent to the site. An experienced karst hydrologist orgeologist should conduct an inventory and survey of springs, sinkholes, stream sinks, caves, and other karst features in the area. Dye tracing may be needed to determine the connection between sinkholes and stream sinks at the site and area springs. Properly assessing the hydrology of the area should aid in siting new quarries in locations where they will not affect springs and streams.

 

Mining Plan

To visualize the size and scope of mining operations, a detailed mining plan should be provided.

It should include mining stages; dimensions of the mine; and the location of processing areas,

stockpiles, settling ponds, washing facilities, stormwater ponds, and roads. This plan could be

combined with the topographic map to present an overall view of the site and the mine

operations.

 

Reclamation Plan

A key issue is the use and character of a mining area after mining operations end. To address this issue, a reclamation plan should be prepared. It needs to detail what reclamation activities will be done during mining, reclamation methods, vegetation types, shape and slope of open water areas, and the future use of the site. This information will allow local governments and the mining companies to tailor the reclamation plan so that the design and use of the reclaimed area is compatible with the surrounding properties.

 

Wetlands

This property is considered wetlands and is protected under Michigan's wetland statute, Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.

 

Conclusions

Studies have shown that in certain areas, these mines can affect the local water resources.

Quarries and pits that actively dewater may have impacts on neighboring wells. Areas that need to be avoided include those with calcareous ferns and large springs.

No comments:

Post a Comment