Deemston residents voice concerns about proposed limestone mine
Residents who live near a proposed limestone mine in Deemston Borough raised a number of concerns about air quality, dust, and other issues at a public hearing Monday at the East Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Company.
Neiswonger Construction Inc. has applied for a mining permit application and draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the proposed Maggie Lynn underground limestone mine.
The proposed 336-acre mine would be under a limestone quarry currently operating along Morey Road. The company plans to discharge treated water in Tenmile Creek, which is classified as a trout-stocked fishery within the Monongahela River Watershed. The site also sits within a half-mile of East Bethlehem Township, a designated environmental justice area.
The hearing was held by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to
gather public comment before it makes a decision on the application.
According to a permit filed with the DEP, Neiswonger plans to expand the existing surface mine pits and construct entries for underground mining by room-and-pillar method in order to mine and process the limestone.
If the permit is approved, it will take an estimated 30 to 35 years to extract the limestone.
No representatives from Neiswonger were present at Monday’s hearing.
Residents voiced concerns about the potential for dust, trucks speeding and hauling limestone without tarp covers, possible impacts on health and the environment, and noted the company’s compliance record.
Neiswonger has been cited by the DEP for fugitive dust violations for failing to control dust from the quarry.
Residents who spoke Monday claimed they regularly see plumes of dust coming off trucks as drivers pass their homes.
Kathy Martincic lives next door to the quarry along Tenmile Creek, and the proposed underground mine will abut her property line.
She voiced concerns about dust control measures and also about potential health risks from silica dust particles created at the quarry.
“This means that not only am I breathing this dust, but also so are the children who attend Beth-Center schools just a little more than a mile from the quarry,” she said.
Martincic suggested the company place dust monitors around the quarry and on the Bethlehem-Center School District property to monitor output.
“We understand that there is a demand for limestone and the price is increasing, making it an attractive commodity in today’s market. We also know that our health, the health of our children, and the health of the workers at the quarry are more valuable than a bucket of stone,” she said.
David Smereczniak, who also lives near the quarry, asked the DEP to deny Neiswonger’s application, citing dust concerns.
“I request that you do not issue a mining permit until the proper dust suppression equipment is in place and operating. We around the quarry have no desire to stop operations; our desire is to make Neiswonger a good neighbor,” said Smereczniak.
Carol Zuchowski, who moved into her Morey Road home in 2012, just months before Neiswonger began operations, believes her property has accumulated damage over time due to the quarry. The siding of her home has to be replaced, and she was forced to close in a porch, both of which she attributes to dust accumulation.
“You can visibly see the damage to my home. We have reported this time after time,” said Zuchowski. “My vehicle is constantly dirty. It is constantly covered in this limestone dust.”
She noted the trucks hauling the limestone don’t cover their loads, leaving roads covered with dust.
“Help us, please. That’s what we’re all asking, we’re asking for your help. See what is happening, not for me just as a homeowner, but for the dozens and dozens and hundreds of kids that live along the path that I travel every day and the school that is out there. Safety should be your main concern,” said Zuchowski. “I don’t want them to be shut down, but they sure should be compliant.”
Lois Bower-Bjornson, who grew up in Fredericktown and visits family members there regularly, cited several reasons for her opposition to DEP issuing the company a permit, including possible environmental impacts on water quality, recreation in the area, and health.
“The potential impact on the water quality could harm the creek’s aquatic ecosystem and disrupt the local fisheries. It is essential that this discharge meets rigorous standards to prevent contamination and protect these sensitive aquatic environments,” she said.
Bjornson noted five marinas operate in Fredericktown, drawing visitors from the Pittsburgh region, Ohio, and West Virginia for boating and recreation.
“So if our water is not any good and we have a big, giant quarry where people are rafting up and down, or kayaking, and they have to look at a quarry and plumes of silica dust floating on them, that takes our little town that’s trying to build again and it’s again destroyed by another industry because the industry is not made to do what they’re supposed to do by the departments that oversee them,” she said.
She suggested a cumulative health impact study be conducted, and said potential environmental harm and recreational impact “strongly outweigh the benefits of approving this permit.”
A public meeting regarding the proposed underground mine was held in December. Monday’s additional meeting was held as part of DEP’s efforts to increase outreach across Pennsylvania with environmental justice communities that are impacted by environmental challenges.