Rails to Trails Quarry Debate
By: Ben Manning
Updated: July 6, 2010
WILLIAMSBURG, BLAIR COUNTY - A business out of the Pittsburgh area wants to re-open a Williamsburg limestone quarry. The problem is, the quarry surrounds a Blair County Rails to Trails path. About 60 residents came out to the Catharine Township Board of Supervisors meeting Monday night to try and stop them.
David Crone and Adam Swan ride their bikes on the trail about once a week. They were surprised to find out they could be riding next to a limestone quarry soon.
The Gulf Group bought the old Heller limestone quarry in 2007 and Monday night they talked to the supervisors about their plans to re-open the quarry.
Jim Ross says they'll create 44 direct and indirect jobs and improve the look of the area by cleaning up what was left by the old quarry. The Gulf Group has a small non-coal permit to start work within 300 feet of the surrounding properties, including Rails to Trails.
Stan Kotala is the Conservation Chair of the local Audubon Society. He says you need to keep any mining a quarter mile away from bird and bat habitats, and the trail. But Ross says they've done environmental studies and they'll only have a minimal impact.
The Gulf Group has a small non-coal permit they'll start working on roads and bridges in the quarry area in the fall. They need to apply for a large non coal permit before they can do any real mining.
James Edward hopes they get it, and create jobs. But Crone says it’s not worth destroying the trail.
David Crone and Adam Swan ride their bikes on the trail about once a week. They were surprised to find out they could be riding next to a limestone quarry soon.
The Gulf Group bought the old Heller limestone quarry in 2007 and Monday night they talked to the supervisors about their plans to re-open the quarry.
Jim Ross says they'll create 44 direct and indirect jobs and improve the look of the area by cleaning up what was left by the old quarry. The Gulf Group has a small non-coal permit to start work within 300 feet of the surrounding properties, including Rails to Trails.
Stan Kotala is the Conservation Chair of the local Audubon Society. He says you need to keep any mining a quarter mile away from bird and bat habitats, and the trail. But Ross says they've done environmental studies and they'll only have a minimal impact.
The Gulf Group has a small non-coal permit they'll start working on roads and bridges in the quarry area in the fall. They need to apply for a large non coal permit before they can do any real mining.
James Edward hopes they get it, and create jobs. But Crone says it’s not worth destroying the trail.
