20231101_Blasting_Response_Letter_05-07

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ROY COOPER
Governor ? i' - r
ELIZABETH S.BISER
Secretary
Q AM VIOL
WILLIAM E.TOBY VINSON,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Interim Director Environmental Quality
November 1,2023
Ms. Patricia Jordan
Jordan Land Development, Inc.
PO Box 863
West Jefferson,NC 28694
RE: Blasting Complaint
West Jefferson Quarry
Mining Permit No. 05-07
Ashe County
New River Basin
Dear Ms. Jordan:
The review has been completed on the shot records you previously submitted for the March 9,2023,through August
21,2023,blasts at the West Jefferson Quarry. Your company has been found to be in compliance with the blasting
conditions outlined in Mining Permit No. 05-07.
Thank you for your continued cooperation. If you should have any questions on the above, please contact me at
[phone].
Sincerely,
Adam Parr,PE
State Mining Engineer
cc: Ms. Tamera Eplin,PE
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w^^�^� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Energy.Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1612 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1612
Da�^^�^ —" /� 919.707.9200

�dio,STAr-Q,
ROY COOPER
Governor ? i' - r
ELIZABETH S.BISER
Secretary
Q AM VIOL
WILLIAM E.TOBY VINSON,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Interim Director Environmental Quality
November 1, 2023
Ms. Jennifer Treski
303 Wade E Vannoy Dr.
West Jefferson,NC 28694
RE: Blasting Complaint
West Jefferson Quarry
Mining Permit No. 05-07
Ashe County
New River Basin
Dear Ms. Treski:
Our office has completed its review of Jordan Land Development, Inc.'s blasting information, including blast
reports and seismograph recordings,related to the March 9,2023,through August 21,2023,blasts conducted at the
West Jefferson Quarry. It was found that Jordan Land Development, Inc. was in compliance with the blasting
requirements of its mining permit during the period in question.
All peak particle velocities, a measurement of ground vibration with units in inches per second (ips), were well
below the maximum allowable limits specified in Jordan Land Development, Inc.'s mining permit. More
specifically, all recorded values were at or below 0.32 ips at the closest offsite occupied structure (the location
where compliance with the permit limits is determined). According to extensive research by the U.S. Bureau of
Mines and others,particle velocities below 0.5 ips effectively eliminate the possibility of any structural damage.
All airblast readings, a measurement of the atmospheric pressure wave(overpressure)with units in psi or dB,were
also below the maximum allowable limits specified in the mining permit and well below the U. S.Bureau of Mines'
recognized level of 164 dB for prevention of glass breakage. More specifically,all recorded values were at or below
116 dB at the closest offsite occupied structure. A key point worth noting is that glass breakage occurs at much
lower levels of overpressure than structural damage, such as cracking plaster.
Thank you for your interest and patience in this matter. Hopefully, I have answered your concerns adequately. If
you should have any additional questions or concerns,please contact me at(919) 707-9220.
Sincerely,
Adam Parr,PE
State Mining Engineer
cc: Ms. Tamera Eplin, PE
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Energy,Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1612 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1612
NORM CAROLINA -
oePanmamotenmmnmamaiouaiN / 919.707.9200