Safety, environment are Springfield Township residents' top concerns about proposed mining

Oct. 2—SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP — Most of the residents commenting at the third hearing for Three Rivers Aggregate's mining application expressed safety and environmental concerns.

The hearing, held last Wednesday by the Springfield Township supervisors, is part of the process for Three Rivers to open a sand and gravel mine on 141 acres between Blacktown Road, North Holstein Lane and Pine Road.

Area residents oppose the operation out of fear of dust, noise, water usage and the effect on property values. A previous hearing was held Aug. 16.

Three Rivers Aggregates was again defended by Lou Perrotta, while the people speak on their own behalf or through attorney Alexis Wheeler.

Perrotta presented two expert witnesses.

Kyle Griffith of RAR Engineering, a professional geologist and a hydrogeologist, discussed the use of water in the area and addressed the concerns of deep mines.

Griffith explained that the site would use water from rain and groundwater, not deep well water. He explained that water will be pulled from a pond on site and returned after use.

"It is a non-pumping operation," Griffith said. "You're not discharging water from the site, so there won't be any impact to the water wells."

One resident asked whether the process would cause erosion. Griffith said that would not be an issue, as crews would backfill the site as they progressed.

Attorney Susan Smith said Three Rivers has met the criteria set in Springfield's zoning regulations. She said the supervisors have no reason to deny the application.

Three Rivers's testimonies have covered the parts of the zoning law, she said, and it will comply with the law as long as its operation conforms with its presented plan.

Smith said supervisors could add additional conditions for approval, though there may need to be evidence to prove the need for new conditions.

"They have demonstrated compliance with your ordinance to this point," Smith said. "The burden of health to the public is on the public, not the applicant, to prove."

After Smith, Perrotta rested his case. The public began their testimonies, but did not finish.

One of the few resident testimonies of the day was Mackenzie Wymer, a Springfield resident whose biggest concern was for the long-term economy.

"We get jobs and then we lose them. It has happened before with the factories and the coal mine, and it'll happen again," Wymer said.

During the last two meetings, John Ayers has been one of the most vocal residents. Ayers has not given official testimony yet, but has asked dozens of questions.

"At the beginning of this, I was neutral. I didn't come to the first meeting but I decided to come to the second," Ayers said. "I just felt that the whole time they were not being truthful. They are telling us that they won't need to drill a well for water, they have a sound expert telling us that pouring gravel in a truck is a quiet noise."

Ayers said prior testimonies have given him more cause for concern. He believes that statements and numbers given by experts have been dishonest or exaggerated.

"I resent the fact they come in here and treat us like we're stupid," Ayers said. "We've been prying to get some truthful answers out of them, but there have been a lot of things a quick Google search or going to a gravel mine can disprove."

Ayers has specific concerns over noise levels, the dust and the history of deep mines under Springfield Township.

"These are people's lives and their homes. We just want the truth. If we want to get our own testing as proof, we have to pay for it ourselves and most people here can't do that," Ayers said. "It is basically already approved, I know this. I just wish it was more unbiased. They are all one-sided and (I'm) just saying 'hey we're concerned for our lives.'"

While the majority of the room echoed Ayers' concerns, some people supported the mining operation.

A fourth and final hearing will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 18, when residents will be able to testify further. A decision on the mining site will be given then.

Ty Kohler can be contacted at tkohler@alliednews.com.