SOLEBURY, DEP REACH ACCORD OVER QUARRY
Posted:
12/18/2009 12:10:00 PM
Township and state agency will jointly review New Hope Crushed Stone's impact
After two weeks of positive and frank discussions, representatives of Solebury Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have agreed on a cooperative plan to thoroughly evaluate the impacts of New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry operations on Solebury's environment.
DEP has agreed to reconsider “all terms and conditions” of the operating permit granted to the quarry, and the Township has withdrawn its legal challenges to the DEP's permitting process, averting two weeks of trial while preserving Solebury's right to return to court if necessary.
“Everything we wanted, but had no reason to expect, we got,” said Dr. Peter Brussock of Environmental Planning Consultants, Solebury's expert on water resources. Officials with the Department of Environmental Protection have agreed to meet with Brussock and his team of experts to determine the scope and focus of their investigation into the impacts of quarry operations.
“We hope to work closely with state regulators to develop clear and sensible limits on what activities will be allowed that effect the watershed,” said Brussock. “Permits need to protect all of our water resources if we hope to sustain this watershed for future generations and reduce the substantial impacts, including the dewatering of numerous residential wells as a result of quarry pumping of the ground water down to elevations lower than 100 feet below sea level in order to continue removing rock.”
This study will “substantively review the classification and aquatic health of the Primrose Creek and will examine possible mitigation alternatives,” according to the stipulation filed with the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board today.
The DEP further promises to meet with Solebury residents at a Board of Supervisors meeting to discuss the agency's analysis and findings, and hear the concerns of those most affected by the ongoing activities of the quarry. DEP officials will invite and include Township officials and experts in subsequent meetings with the quarry and involve Brussock and his team in the monitoring of quarry operations.
Solebury residents and many organizations in the region are actively involved in the Township's development of a holistic, long-term approach to water resources management. A newly-forming Primrose Creek Watershed Association will join a grassroots coalition that includes Bucks County Trout Unlimited; Delaware Riverkeeper; the Delaware River Basin Commission; Aquetong, Paunacussing and Pidcock Creek watershed associations and numerous conservancy organizations in this effort.
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