By Chris Ullery
Posted Mar 6, 2020 at 10:28 AM
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday approved Richard E. Pierson’s request to remove various equipment from Rockhill Quarry, as it seeks more information from the quarry operator on testing results related to asbestos at the site.
A geological survey to find the extent of naturally occurring asbestos at Rockhill Quarry by Hanson Aggregates is being questioned by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.
The DEP on Monday issued its comments and questions to a Qualitative Geologic Survey Report from Nov. 15 performed by an environmental consultant the quarry owner hired to test for asbestos at the site.
The March 2 response asks the quarry owner to clarify several of the testing methods applied by EarthRes consultants in its report.
The DEP also raised issues over apparent discrepancies from samples it took at the quarry and samples used by EarthRes.
The department is also asking for a clarification on differences in “mapping data” versus “drilling data” that appeared in the report.
“It appears using drill core data, the volume of veins, and therefore the volume of (naturally occurring asbestos), are underestimated,” the DEP’s response letter states.
Hanson has until April 6 to address the points raised by the DEP “in a manner that thoroughly and comprehensively identifies the amount of (asbestos)” at the quarry.
The survey was meant to establish a complete and accurate account of the prevalence of naturally occurring asbestos first confirmed near the end of 2018.
In December 2018, the DEP issued a work cessation order for the quarry until the extent of the known carcinogen could be determined.
The survey submitted in November was part of that investigation and review.
The DEP also noted that samples used by the consultant did not appear to match previous samples the department had previously taken from the quarry.
A consultant hired by a local environmental group, the Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance, submitted comments raising other technical and research related concerns Thursday.
The letter from Bradely Erskine, of California-based Erskine Environmental Consulting, said the DEP’s response asked “probing questions that should generate some enlightening responses.”
DEP also included in an update to East Rockhill residents news that Richard E. Pierson, operator at the quarry, would be removing equipment from the quarry over the next four weeks, beginning Monday.
A state inspector will be on site to ensure the company follows steps to disrupt the site as little as possible.
Drivers in the area should be aware of oversized loads exiting the quarry at 2055 North Rockhill Road for the next month.
While the request to remove equipment came just a day after a county judge ruled that East Rockhill did not have to allow an asphalt plant at the quarry, there’s no indication that equipment is being permanently removed.
A DEP spokeswoman said the company indicated the machinery is needed for other work, making it possible the numerous vehicles and excavating equipment will return.
The quarry has faced near constant opposition from neighbors as well as elected officials at nearly every level of government since quarrying operations resumed near the end of December 2017 after decades of near-dormancy.
More information about the ongoing environmental issues at the quarry can be found on the DEP’s website at dep.pa.gov.