The following statement was read at the May 28th DEP meeting.

This statement is from the Paradise Watchdogs, an environmental group, in existence for nearly 20 years, founded to work with local government to protect the environment of New Hanover Township and surrounding municipalities.

The Paradise Watchdogs represent 1400 area residents who have expressed their concern about the potential impacts to air and water quality as well as fundamental quality of life issues associated with the development and operation of:

• A hard-rock quarry

• ·A rock crushing facility

• An asphalt plant

• And, a ready-mix concrete plant.

We are especially concerned that Gibraltar Rock, Inc., a company with no experience in hard rock quarrying and asphalt plants is requesting a variance to the environmental regulations that have been written to safeguard and protect the residents, environment, and wildlife of Pennsylvania.

As you may know, the land on which this proposed quarry is to be built was previously involved in a fight to develop a landfill. It was due to the efforts of the DEP and the Paradise Watchdogs that this landfill was stopped.  During that fight, this property was extensively studied.  Our records show that large portions of the area are wetlands with intermittent streams leading into Swamp and Minister Creeks---eventually running into the rivers of the Delaware River Basin.

The Paradise Watchdogs are concerned about the amount and type of runoff:

We are specifically concerned about the potential effects of

• The high acidic and metallic sediment associated with quarries

• The crude oil bitumen which composes asphalt

• The non-water soluble emulsifying agents that bind asphalt 

• The high alkali content of cement mixtures 

We are concerned about the long-term effects these agents will have on our streams, drinking water, wetlands, and wildlife population. Speaking of an impact to wildlife, the Environmental Advisory Board recently identified the only Blue Heron rookery in Montgomery County , and only one of two in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which is immediately downstream of the proposed quarry.

The residents of New Hanover Township ask you to not give short shrift to our concerns, but to do what is in your power to do---to not grant a variance to Gibraltar Rock.