Pillar Materials LLC wants to build a 385-acre mega-rock quarry off Exit 191 on the Calhoun and Cleburne County line! They currently have a permit being reviewed by the state of Alabama.
Some scary facts to consider:
Not compatible with surrounding uses
Next door to this proposed quarry facility are hundreds of homes, the beautiful Cider Ridge Golf Course, and beautiful hiking areas in the nearby Talladega National Forest.
Property values (and wells) may plummet.
Studies suggest property values can decrease by as much as 30% when located near an open pit rock quarry. Blasting can be measured miles away, potentially impacting the water quality.
Potentially damaging tributaries and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed
The Choccolocco Creek flows on site, home to three endangered species: the blue shiner, the holiday darter, and the pygmy scuplin. This waterway is home to outdoor recreation and some of the best water in Alabama. Also, the potential quarry is in regulatory floodplain, a huge environmental hazard!
Truck traffic!
No traffic study appears to have been submitted. The truck traffic at Exit 191 is terrible! How many trucks will this bring in per day? Can our roads sustain the weight of heavy rocks on our roads?
Quality of life suffers
Dust, noise, blasting, truck traffic, weekend hours!
What we must do to STOP THIS NOW!
Using the form below, email Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Ronald W. Gore, Chief
ADEM-Air Division
Jeffery W. Kitchens, Chief
ADEM-Water Division