In November of 2003 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sent Gibraltar Rock a letter identifying 44 deficiencies in Gibraltar Rock's application for a permit to operate a non-coal mine (quarry).  Read the November 2003 letter.

Upon receiving the deficiency letter, Gibraltar Rock submitted a response to the 44 deficiencies. 

On May 11, 2004 the DEP sent a letter to Uday Patankar of Gibraltar Rock in reply to their response.  Read the May 11, 2004 reply to Gibraltar Rock.

DEP said that "significant deficiencies still remain." They also said that "if the following items that are outlined in the technical deficiencies letter of November 14, 2003...are not completely addressed, the Department will deny your application."

The letter includes over 13 major areas of concern. The chief among them include:

• The stream on the property that the PA Fish and Boat Commission classifies as perennial.  No mining is allowed to interfere with a perennial stream.  Gibraltar Rock wants to have this classified as an ephemeral stream, so they can mine near it. 

• The DEP wants information on all wells within 1000 feet of the property.  DEP wants Gibraltar Rock to provide information on these wells or provide information on why they can't obtain information.

• There are issues surrounding the wetlands on the property.

• There is an issue about discharge water from the asphalt plant. The DEP wants Gibraltar Rock to proposed a 'closed system' that recycles all of the discharge water without letting it pour into Swamp Creek.

• The DEP has again asked Gibraltar Rock to submit notarized waivers from local residents.  In their submission back to DEP, Gibraltar Rock used the Paradise Watchdogs as an excuse for why they couldn't get local residents to allow them on their property. Gibraltar Rock assumes that the residents of New Hanover Township aren't savvy enough to know that they could lose dearly by signing a notarized waiver. They needed the Paradise Watchdogs as an excuse.

What You Can Do

Send a note, letter, or an email to Senator Wonderling, PA Rep. Raymond Bunt, and PA Rep. Mark Cohen asking them to keep the pressure on the DEP to continue being vigilante in its response to Gibraltar Rock.  

To reach Senator Wonderling, see this page.

To reach the Hon. Ray Bunt, see this page.

To reach the Hon. Mark Cohen, see this page.

And, while you're at it, send the Secretary of the DEP a letter while you're at it thanking her and her organization for its continued diligence. 

Kathleen A. McGinty - Secretary
PA Department of Environmental Protection
16th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 2063
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063