Alamance Aggregates - Written Comments 4

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r:
Water Supply and Quality Concerns
Jane Lea Hicks, 1730 Quakenbush Road, Snow Camp, NC 27349
Mining statute consideration:
(2) That the operation will have unduly adverse effects on potable groundwater
supplies, wildlife, or fresh water, estuarine, or marine fisheries;
We are concerned about the Potential Effects of Aggregate Mining on our supply of clean
water and on aquatic ecosystems.
Aggregate operations located next to or near rivers, lakes, or other waterbodies have the potential
to significantly affect ground water levels and ecosystems. Potential effects on aquatic ecosystems
include the following:
• Changes to hydrological patterns.
• The removal of the overburden (vegetation and soils) and changes to the landscape that
result from the creation of pits and quarries can lead to changes in water drainage patterns.
• Also, the water storage capacity of underground aggregate deposits is lost when they are
excavated (Winfield and Taylor 2005). Streamflow patterns—including the timing and
amount of river discharge—and lake levels can be affected by these changes to surface
water and groundwater.
Studies show that ground water has a major influence on rock weathering, streambank erosion, and
the headward progression of stream channels. In steep terrain, it governs slope stability; in flat
terrain, it limits soil compaction and land subsidence. Pumping of ground water can reduce river
flows, lower lake levels, and reduce or eliminate discharges to wetlands and springs. It also can
influence the sustainability of drinking-water supplies and maintenance of critical ground water-
dependent habitats.
Today, many of the concerns about ground water resources involve questions about depletion of
ground water storage, reductions in streamflow, potential loss of ground water-dependent
ecosystems, land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and changes In ground water quality.
We are concerned about the potential of this mine to drawdown the water level in our
water wells.
Quarry operations are long-term land uses that progress in width and depth over time. When the
mining proceeds below the water table, the operator must begin pumping the inflow of groundwater
out of the quarry to continue mining. This pumping can lower the groundwater levels in areas
around the permit and is called drawdown. The drawdown is greatest nearest the quarry and
generally reduces with distance, forming a cone-like shape with the quarry at the center. This is
called the cone of depression. The cone of depression is not fixed and is affected by pumping at the
mine, geological factors, and the amount of precipitation and other recharge, or water input, to the
aquifer. Of greater significance is the zone of influence created by the drawdown on surrounding
aquifers and water wells.
Blasting and mining can have additional environmental consequences depending on the geology and
topography of a region. The force of the dynamite can change the flow of groundwater.
Groundwater that once flowed north to south might turn southeast. That slight change in direction
can cause neighboring wells to underperform or lose access to the water table entirely.
The applicant has determined that the impact of dewatering this area at a rate of 500,000 gallons
per day to a depth of 325 feet would have no impact on neighboring residential wells. The geology
in this area has not yet been mapped, but mapping by the State has been completed less than a
December 14, 2018

f
mile due south of the property. The geology in the regions closest to the property shows the
presence of diabase dikes, or underground high volume waterways, and multiple faults and
fractures communicating with the dikes, a situation that increases the transmissivity or potential
water exchange within a network of interconnected aquifers. Based on the nearby mapped geology
and UDAR images of lineaments that track fault lines on the property, there is a high likelihood that
the proposed mining property contains these same structures and would have a high degree of
transmissivity.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that diabase dikes can be as wide as 65 feet and as much as 3
miles long. Based on the high likelihood of these dikes and fractures in the property, the cone of
depression would most likely not be a cone at all, but quite possibly a quadrangle, with the zone of
influence miles.
Our Community was severely impacted by the draught that encompassed the entire state from
2000 to 2007. We were in the Extreme Draught category for many years and only this year,
following the extreme rain during the hurricanes, were classified free from draught. Many Snow
Camp residents had concerns about accessing the water table with their existing wells during that
draught and are concerned at the potential drawdown from the proposed mine, when we re-enter
draught conditions.
A proposed mining operation in Pleasant Garden, 20 miles west of this proposed site was blocked by
the County Planning Board, largely over ground water drawdown concerns based on an estimated
zone of influence of more than a mile, impacting a number of residences. This was a similarly
planned site on about 300 acres and the initial operation in 20 acres. Pleasant Garden is a similar
community to Snow Camp, rural/residential, shares our same geology and is entirely dependent on
ground water and has similar population.
The entire township of Snow Camp constitutes 61 square miles and 6784 souls that make up our
population. The entire township, including our fire department is dependent on ground water as our
only access to clean water. If the zone of influence were to extend just one mile from the mine, it
puts 120 residents at risk.
We believe that as a community our rights to clean water should not be threatened. Without a
thorough site specific geophysical study and completion of geological maps, there is no way of
predicting the zone of influence from dewatering. As stated by the NC Department of Greenways
Geology (text modified from USGS), Geologic maps provide a fundamental scientific resource on
which land-use, water-use, and resource-use decisions are based. Geologic maps record the
distribution of rock materials at and near the land surface. They can be used to help identify and
protect valuable resources, avoid risks from natural hazards, and make wise use of our land.
Geologic maps have many different uses, including assessing ground-water quality and
contamination risks; predicting landslide hazards; locating and characterizing energy and mineral
resources; sighting waste repositories; making wise decisions regarding land management and
land-use planning. The value of geologic map information in public and private decision-making has
been shown to reduce uncertainty and, by extension, potential costs for large and small
construction projects.
We feel that the State of North Carolina in considering this permit application is taking far too great
a risk with our essential access to clean water. There are no referenced studies in the permit
application, nor is there a stipulation that Alamance Aggregates would be responsible for the
restoration of clean water to those impacted by their dewatering and blasting operations. A
geophysical map is essential in determining the potential flow of ground water into and out of the
site. Studies should include at a minimum a fracture site analysis and magnetometer studies of the
diabase dikes, followed by extensive pumping studies and baseline monitoring of neighboring
private wells, along with any other appropriate tests known to the State of North Carolina to
determine the potential drawdown impact and zone of influence this mine would pose for our
community.
(3)That the operation will violate standards of air quality, surface water quality, or
groundwater quality that have been promulgated by the Department;
December 14,2018

In addition, to depleting water levels in our wells, we are concerned that sediment
created from the blasting and grinding can travel back into the ground and communicate
to our groundwater, leading to increased turbidity and contamination of our well water
and travel over the ground surface into our streams.
Development, disruption, or contamination of ground water resources has consequences not only
for hydrological systems but also related environmental systems. Ground water and surface water
are interconnected and interdependent in almost all ecosystems. Ground water plays significant
roles in sustaining the Flow, chemistry, and temperature of streams, lakes, springs, wetlands, and
cave systems in many settings, while surface waters provide recharge to ground water in other
settings.
Increases in suspended sediment. Land exposed by aggregate operations can be prone to
erosion, leading to the accumulation of silt in nearby waterbodies. In addition, slumping or sliding of
unconsolidated material near waterbodies can introduce large quantities of sediment and rocks into
the aquatic environment. Erosion control, such as leaving buffer zones of vegetation, can reduce
these problems, and is a critical component of the project planning stage.
The proposed quarry is surrounded on all 4 sides by streams and wetlands, including 2 FEMA
designated Flood plains along the east and west boundaries. Reedy Branch, the stream along the
east boundary, in addition to being a flood plain, is a WS-V protected upstream water supply
feeding directly into the Cape Fear watershed by way of Cane Creek, Haw River, Lake Jordan and
Cape Fear River. The proposed quarry puts Reedy Creek at extreme risk for storm water runoff, that
would add minerals and sediment and increase the turbidity of the stream. Added turbidity has been
shown to have a detrimental impact on delicate ecosystems, the small organisms that constitute the
beginning of the food chain that ultimately leads to the fresh water fish and other wildlife the
populate the downstream water bodies.
Quarries use large quantities of water in sorting and washing the aggregate and in dust control.
Water used on site can contain chemicals, hydrocarbons, and sediment. Proper management of this
water, including collection and treatment on site, should prevent these substances from entering
nearby waterbodies. Dissolved contaminants (primarily metals, sulfate, and nitrate) can migrate
from mining operations to underlying ground water and surface water. Process water, mine water,
and runoff and seepage from mine waste piles or impoundments can transport dissolved
contaminants to ground water. [USDA Technical Guide to Managing Ground Water Resources]
The company provided map of the proposed quarry shows numerous waste ponds and skimmer
ponds around the perimeter of the property. Also surrounding the property are numerous wetlands
and streams on all sides, Including the Reedy Branch, WS-V protected water way and numerous
unnamed streams. At least 6 skimmer ponds are indicated on the plans, within the 50'buffer and
less than 15 feet from existing streams and wetlands. The manufacturer of the skimmer pumps,
Faircloth Skimmers, indicates on its website that the skimmer does not remove all sediment.
According to the manufacturer:
Will using a skimmer in just any sediment basin improve performance?
No, not necessarily! A surface drain will not make a hole in the ground an efficient basin. Many
other factors are involved.
Does the skimmer also replace the spillway in the basin?
NO! Definitely not! The skimmer only drains the basin from the crest of the overflow down to the
bottom. Its flow capacity to is too small to handle overflow so a spillway or riser or both are needed
We can only surmise based on the location of these skimmer ponds very close to the streams that
the intention is to discharge the pumped water still containing sediment into these waterways.
Sediment added to delicate ecosystems has been shown to have far reaching deleterious
consequences to humans and to wildlife and vegetation.
December 14,2018

The Reedy Branch stream that borders the east side of the property is spring fed from the
groundwater at that site and Flows directly to the Cane Creek and into the Haw River. The
drawdown of the mining operation could potentially dewater the stream, adversely Impacting the
ecological systems of the entire watershed, which is dependent on the lower level organisms that
start the food chain in these upstream streams. Additionally, stormwater carrying mining sediment
and chemical contaminants can enter the stream at its origin, adversely impacted the downstream
ecological systems that are extend the full extent of the Cape Fear Watershed.
The Haw River is home to numerous threatened and endangered species including the Cape Fear
Shiner, the Bald Eagle, and the Yellow Lampmussel. The Cape Fear Shiner is a small fish found
nowhere else in the world beyond the Cape Fear River Basin in the NC Piedmont. The Yellow
Lampmussel is a filter feeder, which are critical organisms for maintaining water quality; It also
provides food for other freshwater organisms. Little is known about the life history of the threatened
Eastern Creekshell, another freshwater mussel found in the Haw. Because mussels have limited
mobility, they are especially vulnerable to habitat lass and water quality degradation.
Sightings of Bald Eagles are fairly common along the Haw River. Other interesting wildlife includes
the Belted Kingfisher, the Great Blue Heron, the Osprey, the American Otter and the American Mink.
Coyotes, bobcats, and foxes abound but are rarely seen. The river itself is also home to a variety of
sport fish species.
The Environmental Literacy Council reports that along with habitat loss and degradation, pollution is
a leading threat to these endangered species. The USDA Technical Guide to Managing Ground Water
Resources states: Ground water-dependent ecosystems have many values, including the following:
• Water-quality benefits. Microfauna in ground water help cleanup contaminants and may play an
important, but not yet fully understood, role in maintaining the health of surface waters.
• Biodiversity value. Many species depend on habitats maintained by ground water discharge. They
add to the ecological diversity of a region and can be indicators of the overall biological health of a
system. Some plants and animals that depend on ground water are rare, unique, or threatened. The
ecosystems in aquifers and caves may be among the oldest surviving on earth. They can be
connected to other non-ground water-dependent ecosystems and thus integrated into many broader
regional ecosystems.
A critical strategy to maintaining functional ecosystems is the preservation of natural
corridors that knit the landscape together. River corridors provide habitat for terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife, and provide"wildlife highways;'allowing migration between open
spaces.
According to the 2007 USDA Technical Guide to Managing Ground Water Resources, ground water
management includes the engineering, economic, and political factors that affect the locations,
rates, and timing of hydrological stresses to the ground water system (ground water withdrawals,
artificial recharge, and so forth). These imposed stresses then affect the responses of the ground
water system (ground water levels, discharge rates, and water quality), which in turn may affect
streamflow rates, aquatic habitats, and other environmental conditions.
The applicant has offered no evidence other than a minimal 50'boundary/buffer zone and some
cases and 8'embankment for protecting which is insufficient. It appears more likely that waste
water from the skimmer ponds would be discharged directly in to the local streams and wetlands.
December 14, 2018 - --- -- -

890 Soapstone Trail
Snow Camp,NC 27349
Dr. Kenneth Taylor December 5,2018
Division of Energy,Mineral and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
I am writing to address my concerns about the proposed crushed stone quarry in Snow Camp,
NC. One of my main concerns is the health effects of the various air pollutants associated with
quarry activities. In this letter, I hope to present the scientific facts that prove there are very
serious negative health effects on the neighborhoods adjacent a crushed stone quarry and that our
neighborhood is well within the range that would be affected.
I have received two scientific articles from two medical doctors who specialize in pulmonology
(a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract) and will use excerpts
from them to make my case. The use of bold for emphasis was done by me.
A. This first article details the health hazards associated with the particulates generated by
quarry activity.
Article title: Clinical Conditions Associated with Environmental Exposures.an Epidemiologic
Study in Two Communities in Juana Diaz,Puerto Rico
Authors: WILLIAM A. CALO MPH,'RAFA JII•OiITANA MPH,'IVAN CATONI,MPH,`
YARI VALLE MPH,'JULIO J.ALVAREZ. MPH; WANDA M. COLON
—MPH, MARLA S.
DELGADO MPH,'MAYRA ESTRELL ,MPH,"AIDA L. GONZALEZ MPH,'MARIA
KALLIS.MPH,'VIVIENNE M. MARRERO MPH'LEHIDA MELENDEZ MPH AISHA I.
MIRANDA,MPH,'KAREN NIEVES MPH,'LYDIETTE OSORIO MPH;"JOSE M.
RODRIGUEZ MPH, AZALIA TORRES MPH'BRICK-E)GiE Ph D,'and ANA.P.,
ORTIZ,MPH,Ph D't
Citation:
Published in final edited form as:
P R Health Sci J. 2009 Jun; 28(2): 126-134.
PMCID:PMC3885176
NIIIMSID:NU MS208706
PMID: 19530554
Exc=:
"It is widely known that particulate matter pollutes the air and it is also associated with a variety
of adverse health effects in humans. These particulates can originate from stationary,mobile,or
natural sources and its effects on human health vary depending on its size. Particulate matter
<2.51tm µ n [micrometer, or one millionth of a meter] in diameter(fine particulates; PM2.5)

and 101tm (coarse particulate; PM10) are strongly associated with respiratory diseases and
other adverse health effects in humans,including hypertension and cardiovascular
conditions, allergies and inflammatory reactions, and birth defects and deficiencies in child
development. In addition,the elderly and people with emphysema, asthma, and chronic heart
and lung diseases are especially sensitive to fine-particle pollution.Numerous studies have
linked elevated particle levels in the air to increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits,
and premature deaths. Because children's lungs and respiratory systems are still developing,they
are also more susceptible than healthy adults to fine particles.
Rock extraction and truck transportation make quarry operation both a stationary and a
mobile source of particulate matter, respectively. A study from taiwan found high
concentrations of PM2.5 and PM 10 in a quarry's neighbor surroundings. In Wales, UK, a study
found rock particulates between PM2.5 and PM 10 and PM2.5 soot particulates from the diesel
used in the explosions of a limestone quarry. In fact, a major source of soot particulate in
quarries is derived from the diesel exhaust of the trucks used to transport the extracted
minerals. Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants, composed of a variety of
harmful gases and solid materials which include carbon particles and over 40 other known
cancer-causing substances.Also, trucks disperse particulates to the surroundings when they
transit the unpaved roads of quarries and from dispersion of their cargo.
Diesel exhaust and particulates from quarries are suspended in the air,thus exposure to these
pollutants occurs whenever a person breathes air that contains these substances. Those living or
spending time near the quarries or the roads with the diesel-truck traffic face exposure to higher
levels of particulate matter and may face higher health risks. Multiple studies have shown that
particulate matter pollution from quarry operation and diesel exhaust is associated with an
increase of several diseases such as heart diseases, respiratory diseases, and several types of
cancer.
Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and fine particulates that contain
nitrogen oxides that damage lung tissue, lower the body's resistance to respiratory infection, and
worsen respiratory diseases. The majority of diesel particulate matter is less than 1 µm
[micrometer, or one millionth of a meter] in diameter and particulates from quarries range from
2.5 pm to 10 µm. In general, particles 10 µm or less in diameter can be inhaled into the lungs.
Chemicals adsorbed on particles can dissolve in the fluid lining the airways and then be absorbed
into the body. Research has shown that, in fact, average life expectancy can be reduced by
about 1.5 years, comparing the places with highest and lowest particulate matter levels and
a loss of about 14 years of life can be experienced among those people with high particulate
matter exposure.
Epidemiological studies and official reports by federal and state agencies have reported that short
exposure to particulate matter and diesel exhaust is sufficient to irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and
lungs, and may cause headaches, light-headedness, and nausea and vomiting. Exposure to
particulate matter from quarry operation or truck's diesel exhaust increases the risk of adverse
respiratory symptoms such as having cough without having a cold,wheezing, and tight chest. In
addition, exposure to particulate matter is associated with hospitalizations related to respiratory
problems and to children's school absences due to respiratory and other diseases. Children whose

schools are exposed to quarries have a higher possibility of having cough with havin co
in comparison to those whose schools are not exposed. Particul ate g matter has an adverse Id
a
effect on the respiratory health of children even when their levels are below those
established by law and is associated with hospitalizations related to respiratory problems.
B. The next article is from Yuh-Chin T. Huang,M.D.,M.H.S.,Professor of Medicine,
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine,Duke University Medical Center. This
article is important because it illustrates how far from the quarry site the
travel. In Dr. Huang's transmittal email to me,he says"Stone crushing damaging particulates
quality and its impact depending on how far are you from the site. I attachedn artic will le thaect t
showed the relationship of distance from the site and air quality. There are others, but this is
most relevant.2,400 feet is about 720 in, which is within the range that the effect on air quality is
seen." I had told Dr. Huang that as nearly as I can tell from the tax maps,my property is about
2,400 feet from the quarry site. The "Village"in the article is 5,000 meters(16,404 feet,2.294
inches,or more than 3 miles)from the quarry site.
Article title: Air QwhV Assessment in the Vicinity of Quarry Site
Authors: Babatunde Saheed Bada, Kofoworola Amudat Olatunde& Oluwafunmilayo Abidemi
AKande
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, Ogun State,Nigeria
Citation: Published March 21, 2013 by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Excerpts:
"This study investigated air pollutants associated with quarry,activities and the variation of the
Pollutants with distance from the drilling section. . . . Suspended particulates were the most
significant of the air pollutants analyzed.
Dust is the main source of air pollution in quarry industry. The extent of pollution by dust
depends on the local microclimate conditions,the concentration of dust particles in the ambient
air,the size of the dust particles and their chemistry. Dust has effect both on human health and
the natural environment.It can lead to chronic health effects for instance decreased lung capacity
and lung cancer resulting from long-term exposure to toxic air pollutants.
This is also in agreement with the prediction of the United State Environmental Protection
Agency(USEPA)that suspended particulate matter is quite outstanding among the pollutants
emanating from quarry operations (USEPA, 2008).
The mean values of Total Suspended Particulates(TSP)in all the sampling locations [including
the Village which is 5,000 meters away,more than 3 miles] were higher than the permissible
level of 230 µg/m3 (World Bank, 1998). Particulate matter in the air are transported from
the point of generation to areas far removed(UNEP, 199ly,

The last sentence of their summary says"Inhabitant of the area where a quarry is to be sited
should be relocated to prevent the impact of the emissions generated by the quarry
industries on them."
It seems abundantly clear from scientific evidence that neighbors living anywhere near the
quarry site are going to be exposed to enough quarry dust and diesel soot to adversely affect their
health. There are several homes within range and several more planned. We have plans to build
a home on our property this next year,but doubt that we will proceed if the quarry goes in.
Snow Camp is a nice, old community and people want to live there. Please don't let Alamance
Aggregates, LLC ruin it. Snow Camp is a"community,"meaning that a group of several people
live there,with schools and churches and businesses. Surely there is a more suitable location for
a crushed stone quarry.
Respec y,
Kathy Mcs
"Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift."
Amit Ray
In 1556, Georgius Agricola noted the devastating effects of mining:
"of the detractors [of mining]that the fields are devastated by mining operations,for which
reason formerly Italians were warned by law that no one should dig the earth for metals and so
injure their very fertile fields,their vine yards, and their olive groves.Also they argue that the
woods and groves are cut down,for there is a need for an endless amount of wood for timbers,
machines,and the smelting of metals. And when the woods and groves are felled,then are
exterminated the beasts and birds,very many of which famish a pleasant and agreeable food for
man. Further,when the ores are washed,the water which has been used poisons the brooks and
streams, and either destroys the fish or drives them away. Therefore the inhabitants of these
regions, on account of the devastation of their,fields,woods, groves,brooks and rivers, find great
difficulty in procuring the necessaries of life, and by reason of the destruction of the timber they
are forced to greater expense in erecting buildings."

890 Soapstone Trail
Snow Camp,NC 27349
December 9,2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Re: Proposed crushed stone quarry in Snow Camp,NC
I am writing to address my concerns about the impact that blasting from the quarry will
have on the"High Hazard" earthen dam(according to the NCDENR)located on our
property(the"Tredmont Dam'). We are part of the Snow Camp Plantation subdivision
and the dam makes a twenty-five acre lake around which twenty tracts of land are located.
The dam is less than half a mile from the proposed quarry site.
This dam was built in the 1950's in connection with a soapstone mine that operated on the
property. You would have heard about that mine at the December 5 meeting in Snow
Camp. You would also have heard that ponds and lakes are the main water source used by
the Snow Camp Volunteer Fire Department, and our lake is perhaps THE main water
source. I've heard that during a severe drought in the recent past,water from the lake was
pumped to Siler City for a temporary municipal water supply.
Since about half of the dam is located on my tract, I have spent a lot of time in the past two
years bringing the dam into compliance pursuant to inspection letters we get from Matt
Gantt, who is our dam inspector,and is with the NCDENR. We very much want to take
good care of the dam,recognizing that it is both old and earthen. Now,because of the
proposed quarry,we are especially worrying about liquefaction causing the dam to breach
or fail.
Liquefaction is the phenomenon that occurs when saturated soil is exposed to vibrations, as
from an earthquake or from blasting. The vibrating motion causes the soil to become
soupy and liquid-like. Soil in this state cannot support weight and will flow down even a
very gentle slope. You may have produced this phenomenon yourself by stamping on
beach sand. That's liquefaction,too.
The U.S. Army.Corps of Engineers has stated it has serious concerns about the continuous
blasting necessary for the operation of a rock quarry next to [an] earthen dam. There is a
chance the continuous vibrations from blasting will weaken the earthen dam, causing
costly damage and even catastrophic failure. (Stop rock quarries from operating near
dams,by Bill Beek,Published 10:00 a.m. CT March 6,2016 in the Tennessean(an online
newspaper)

In fact,in Review of Present Practices Used in Predicting the Effects of Blasting on Pore
Pressure (by Wayne A. Charlie,Bureau of Reclamation Engineering and Research Center,
Denver, CO 80225,November, 1985)they say"For a deeply buried charge,most of the
wave energy in the surrounding material is in the form of a compressional stress wave.
After the stress wave reaches interfaces, such as soil-rock boundaries,the water table, or
the ground surface,reflections can produce compression or tension, shear, and surface
waves. A blast that detonates in a few milliseconds can thus produce oscillatory ground
motions lasting several seconds at locations several hundred meters away. Millisecond
delays between detonations result in additional stress waves. In addition,high-frequency
energy is damped out faster than low-frequency energy; therefore,the energy at great
distances is in a lower frequency range." That lower frequency range contributes more to
liquefaction than does the higher frequency range, and it's not going to have any trouble
reaching our dam.
The repetitive nature of mining blasts contributes to the potential for liquefaction. "The
extent of liquefaction for a given charge weight can be increased by subjecting the soil to
multiple ground vibrations by the use of multiple charge with delay detonators(Charlie,
1985). In view of this,the mining blasts are of repetitive nature and the structure will be
subjected to ground vibrations for several times during its life period (Assessment ofsafety
of earthen dams against ground vibrations due to mining blasts.Available from:
https://www.research atg enet/publication/319165480).
Most of the articles I found as I researched the issue of blasting near an earthen dam dealt
instead with potential damage to structures,not earthen dams, and the guidelines for
blasting safety were to protect structures,not earthen dams. It sounds like most guidelines
ignore the occurrence of liquefaction. I never found any mention of steps that could be
taken to keep liquefaction from happening.
I know that the rights of property owners are somehow not a part of these hearings,but I
do know that the 25 acre lake which is contained by the Tredmont Dam is the sole reason
that most of my neighbors in our subdivision, as well as me,bought our property at that
location. If our dam is somehow compromised,or even substantially damaged, our
property would be practically worthless to us.Needless to say,we are very concerned
about the presence of this proposed quarry in this community, and we are outraged with
the cavalier, sneaky,and thoughtless manner in which the permit for this project was
issued.
I, as well as a majority of the property owners in the vicinity of this proposed project,have
as our main concern the air pollutants, some of which are carcinogens. I purchased my
property in Snow Camp about 2003. I have been planning to build a retirement home of
some sort out there for some time. I just turned 66 last September. I will have to put this
on hold, for now;until I can determine if this will be a safe enough location,health wise
and safety wise.

I would like to thank you for accepting the comments of myself and my neighbors on this
proposal,which has many local residents nervous and frightened.We are all hoping that
this quarry can be stopped at the proposed location,and that,in the future, more oversight
and consideration will be given to permitting projects such as this quarry.
Thanks, again.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Benton

December 6,2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
Dear Dr.Taylor,
Please Please PLEASE do not allow the creation of a gravel quarry in Snow Camp, NC.
My family owns a farm at 6146 Snow Camp Road, Graham NC.That farm is just a few miles from the
quarry. That farm has been in our family for over 100 years. We have received certification as a North
Carolina Century Farm Family. We have dutifully paid taxes and been good citizens and good stewards
of the land.
There is a spring on that farm that has been in continuous running for the entire 100 plus years.
A quarry near us,that could pump out as much as 500,000 gallons of groundwater a day would hurt the
water table, damage the spring, spoil the ground water, damage the eco system,and ruin our property
value.
It is unconscionable that County and State officials have let this go so far with an unknown and outside
company with spurious addresses and filings with such late to little consideration or input from
Alamance County residents. Doesn't all of that sound suspicious to you? Is this fair?
Is this fair to the people who live in Southern Alamance county,who are farmers, and depend on the
land for their livelihood and property value?
Please do what you can to stop this. We are begging you.
Do what's right for the land.
Do what's right for the people in this State and in this county.
Sincerely,
Patricia Bailey Allard
6146 Snow Camp Road
Graham, NC

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:08 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
From: Melissa Drozdowski [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 6:27 AM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Report pa
Dear Mr. Miller-
Thank you for agreeing to accept comments regarding the proposed Snow Camp gravel nine by email. Please
allow me to add mine to what I'm sure is an ever-growing pile.
I am a former resident of Snow Camp. Our family moved away recently, but we've been considering returning
to the area to purchase a new home. Snow Camp is a unique rural community, and we're finding that we miss its
beauty and neighborly feel. What's stopping us from actually purchasing another home there,however, are
concerns over the proposed mine.
Having lived in Snow Camp for almost 16 years before moving, we're familiar with both the benefits and
challenges of relying on well and septic systems. It appears to us that adequate consideration was not given to
what might happen to the hundreds of wells dotting the Snow Camp countryside, if the mine is permitted to go
forward.
Pumping out thousands of gallons of water, while digging deep into the surrounding earth? Sounds like a recipe
for disaster for those relying on well and septic in the area. And when the inevitable does happen-because
these systems WILL be negatively impacted-what recourse will the affected homeowners, renters, and farmers
and ranchers have?None. Why? Because this mine has been rushed through the permitting process with little
oversight or transparency toward the general public, and Snow Camp residents, in particular.
We also must bear in mind the thought of resale -who would want to buy a home in proximity to a gravel mine,
with heavy trucks and equipment operating on an everyday basis, and clogging the narrow, two-lane roads
around the community? Noise, transportation issues,potential negative impacts to the environment and public
health...none of these bodes well for resale values of Snow Camp-area homes.
Therefore, as much as we'd like to return, we cannot and will not purchase another home in Snow Camp, given
the negative consequences for homeowners, should the proposed mine be allowed to advance. So already, this
poorly planned project that was disingenuously rushed through the permitting process, has had a negative effect.
It has prevented us from returning to an area we love, and stopped us from contributing to the local economy
through the purchase of a new home.
t

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:09 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Re:Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
From: Karin Yates [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 2:33 AM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Re:Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
I think this was to be addressed to: Dr. Kenneth Taylor-DEQ
On Mon,Dec 17, 2018 at 2:30 AM Karin Yates <]arin.yatesnn.gmail.com>wrote:
I am writing in opposition to the proposed gravel mine in Snow Camp. It is simply not the time to be causing
degradation to the environment of the planet, let alone our lovely historic town of Snow Camp. Due to climate
change we will be facing unprecedented challenges to our air, water and general quality of life. The burden of
a 300+ acre quarry depleting thousands of gallons of water daily and spewing dust and toxins into the air and
waterways will fall entirely on the residents of Snow Camp and is not compliant with environmental concerns
of these times.
Forget the mineral rights act of 1971;this is 2019, and we need to focus on our fragile environment. Once the
damage is done it is difficult if not impossible to fix. The county of Alamance and it's citizens have nothing to
gain from this venture; only the out of town exploiters with limited liability will profit.
1

We strongly urge you and the state of North Carolina to reject this proposed mine, owned and operated by
outside interests, in favor of protecting those who truly live and work in, and love Snow Cam .
Project to continue move forward apace would be a tragedy for this small bit to rural
that be the case. P Allowing this
Paradise; please don't let
Sincerely,
Melissa Drozdowski
2

Wehner, Jud
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:08 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
FW: [External]Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Subject:
Attachments: NO SNOW CAMP MINE Meeting.pdf
From:Jim Davison [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 9:10 AM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External]Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
•
Dear Dr.Kenneth Taylor,
Please find a PDF attachment that contains my written comments related to the 12/5 State Public Hearing
regarding the permit for the Stone Quarry located in Snow Camp,NC. My apologies if you are receiving this
document twice as I sent you a hard copy by mail as well;however,I wanted to ensure that you would receive
the comments by this evening's deadline.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Jim
i

Please keep in mind that the EPA algorithm estimates cumulative risk which is based on cumulative exposure;
so over a lifetime, that cumulative exposure will increase. If this mine is established, it will be in the vicinity of
Sylvan Elementary School with 5. These kids will be at this school for approximately 180 days out of a year for
the next 6 years; over those 6 years, 5 days a week, and 8 hours a day, this mine will continue to add to their
cumulative exposure of crystalline silica and thus adding to their cumulative risk of developing silicosis over their
lifetime.
Air and water pollution are everywhere in the 215i century; we all need to deal with it and limit our exposures and
risks when we can and if we choose to do so. I choose to avoid it when I can, others may not care. But that's
what life is: Life is made up of a series of choices and managing risks; sometimes we as individuals get to make
those choices for ourselves; other times, people in power make those choices and manage risks for us that will
affect our quality of life. With this mine, you will make a choice that will impact the cumulative risk for others,
including the thousands of children that will attend this school over several decades while this mine is functioning.
By choosing to support this mine, North Carolina representatives (you) choose to 1) increase the risk of lower
natural groundwater levels which has the capacity to impact fire safety, 2) increase the risk of groundwater
pollution with toxic chemicals and 3) increase the risk of developing debilitating lung diseases for the children
and residents in the nearby vicinity; or, you can choose to mitigate these risks by revoking the permit of the Snow
Camp Mine.
Please contact me with any questions regarding the topics I have addressed above at 984-355-0813 or
[e-mail]
Sincerely,
James M. Davison, Ph.D.
5441 LongspurRd
Snow Camp, NC 27349
References
1) https://www.cdc.ciov/features/preventing-silicosis/index.html
2) https`.//www.osha.gov/Publications/silicosis.html
3) https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/risk/recordisplay.cfm?deid=l2999
4) Shiraki R and Holmen B.Airbome respirable silica near a sand and gravel facility in central California: XRD
and elemental analysis to distinguish source and background quartz. Environ Sci Technol.
2002;36(23):4956-4961
5) Bhagia U. Non-occupational exposure to silica dust. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2012;16(3):95-100
6) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2018.00111/full
7) http://www.differenoebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-mafiic-and-felsic/

from two pneumothoraxes caused by tears in my lung tissue linked to my asthma. I am happy to say my asthma
is now well controlled, but my children,4 and 1 years old, are predisposed to developing this respiratory disease.
It is well established that air pollution is associated with asthma (CDC website). For example, large and small
urban areas of our country have significantly higher prevalence of childhood asthma compared to rural areas of
our country (Lawson et al 2017) https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.,qov/pubmed/28056923. Two types of air pollution can
trigger asthma attacks: ozone pollution (found in smog) and particle pollution (found in haze, smoke and dust)
https://www3.epa.gov/aimow/asthma-flyer.pdf. Crushed stone quarries, like the proposed Snow Camp Mine,
generate a dangerous particle pollution called respirable crystalline silica that are emitted in the form of a dust.
These microscopic molecules evade building ventilation filters, travel for miles and represent a significant risk
for developing many chronic lung diseases, including asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and silicosis (1).
Silicosis is a progressive, disabling and often fatal lung disease that can also lead to lung cancer, COPD, and
Tuberculosis (2). Crystalline silica represent such a significant public health concern that the EPA developed an
algorithm to define the cumulative risk of developing silicosis in relation to dust exposure (3). To reduce this risk,
modem gravel facilities try to limit dust emissions; yet, they can still emit at least 60 micrograms per cubic meter
of respirable silica as far as 750 meters away or further from the mine site (4). Thus, mining in the snow camp
area may result in abnormally high cumulative risks for developing silicosis. If the Snow Camp Mine becomes
operational, based on the EPA algorithm and the concentration of silica 750 meters away, children born in this
area after the mine opens and that remain in this area for their entire life have a 99.6% chance of developing
silicosis over that lifetime (Continuous exposure = TWA occupational exposures x (5 days/7 days) x (10 m3 air
breathed at work/20 m3 total air breathed in a day); F(CD) = 1 — [1+CD'rs x ei'P'b>]-' (3-5). This conjecture is
supported by a 2012 study that found the prevalence of silicosis in residents in the vicinity of stone cutting
industries was as high as 12.6% (5). Importantly, soils near Snow Camp are composed of felsic and dacitic lavas
which have very high silica contents (6 and 7) suggesting dangerous dust exposures and thus risk of silicosis
may be higher than estimated. To help facilitate the understanding of the cumulative risk of developing silicosis
based on varying concentrations of respirable
crystalline silica dust, I generated the following graph 1
C 0.9
(Figure 1) which illustrates the risk of silicosis over 78 a 06 `
years (average lifespan in United States). The figure m 07 ` �00 g ,3
0'6 -80 uglm^3
indicates that for residents in the immediate vicinity of ° $0.5 -70 ug/m"3
1A•y 0.4 - O uglm^3
the mine where silica dust exposures are likely greater —5°uglm"3
0 0.3 gtm•3
2
than 60 micrograms per cubic have a 50 — 60% risk of a �OUW -3
0.1
4 .1 glm^3
developing silicosis after 18 years of, exposure (the o -10 ugM^3
0 13 26 39 52 65 78
approximate amount of time a newborn will live in the Years exposed to X micrograms per cubic meter of
respirable cristalline silica
residence and leave home). Please note, these
Figure 1: Cumulative risk of developing silicosis over a lifetime
estimates are only for the risk of developing silicosis based on various levels of constant silica dust exposure.
Concentrations of silica dust are as high as 60 micrograms per cubic
Silica dust is associated with a myriad of other health meter or higher as far as 750 meters away or more from the mine site.
Therefore,after 22 years of exposure,residents within 750 meters away
concerns as discussed earlier. have-50%chance of developing silicosis.

12 December2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
Dear Dr. Taylor,
Thank you for the time to address my concerns regarding the Snow Camp Mine.
My name is James Davison and I live at 5441 Longspur Rd, Snow Camp NC. This address is approximately 5
miles from the putative Snow Camp Mine Site. I live in the Cane Creek HOA-managed development with
approximately 40 single-family homes and still growing. I have a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Physiology and have
been working in health-related fields for 10 years. I have several concerns regarding ground water and air
pollution that I will address below:
My development shares a community well managed by AQUA NC. By the time my development is complete,
this community well will supply water to over 100 families. The permit for the Snow Camp Mine indicates the
mine will dig to a depth of 325 feet below the surface and pump out 500,000 gallons of water a day. A research
article prepared for the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources addresses Hydraulic Impacts of
Quarries and Gravel Pits. In this article, the authors discovered that 6 of the 8 studied Limestone, Sand or Gravel
mines either significantly depleted groundwater levels or rerouted the natural flow paths of groundwater and
affected water supply to surrounding areas. Therefore, rock quarries that continually pump out water, like the
Snow Camp Mine, have the capacity to drain nearby lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, farmlands, reservoirs and
wells. Of note, our local fire departments rely on these farmland ponds, water points and reservoirs to fill their
fire trucks and protect our families from home fires, forest fires, school fires and gas line explosions (a threat
discussed earlier/later in this hearing).
Further, sand and gravel quarries commonly use molecules called polyacrylamides as a flocculant (a filtering
mechanism) to improve water treatment. httpS://www.ncbi.nim.nih.aov/pubmed/?term=PAM+acrvlamide+microbiota+mine
These flocculants are often contaminated with a carcinogenic and neurotoxic molecule called acrylamide (which
is used to make the filter)which seeps into the wastewater and sludge and negatively impacts the environment.
These toxic molecules can enter our drinking water; for my own Cane Creek housing development,
contamination of our one water source will impact 100 families. These chemicals also contaminate the local
farmlands. The crops and livestock exposed to these molecules could then end up at our family dinner tables.
https://www.fda.gov/foodtfoodbomeill nesscontaminants/chemicalcontaminants/ucm053569.htm#2
Air quality has always been a personal concern of mine. As a child and during my time in college, I had severe
asthma; I was in the hospital, treated multiple times with steroids to support lung function, and even suffered

Wehner, Judy
From: Piazza, Mark <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 5:43 PM
To: Wehner,Judy
Cc: Langley, Denise (Johnson);Smith, Brian L.;West, Tom; Little, Chip
Subject: [External] Comments on Mining Permit Application -Alamance Aggregates LLC, Snow
Camp, NC
Attachments: CPC Comments on Mining Permit Application Final.pdf
Report�Sam
Ms.Wehner,
Thanks for taking time to speak with me today. Attached to this message are comments from Colonial Pipeline
Company on the Alamance Aggregates LLC permit application to operate a crushed stone mine in Snow camp.
INC. Please contact me with any questions.
Mark Piazza
Colonial Pipeline Company—Pipeline Compliance
678 762 2531—office
678 763 5911—cell
1

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18,2018 7:22 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Snow Camp gravel mine
From: Megan Totten [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 8:19 PM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External]Snow Camp gravel mine
RmortSparn
Dr. Kenneth Taylor,
I attended the public hearing regarding the proposed Snow Camp gravel mine on December 5th, 2018 at Sylvan
Elementary. I would like to also express my concerns of what the proposed mine will do to our community. In
regards to The Mining Act of 1971,this specific proposal raises red flags to criteria numbers 2, 3, and 4.
2)The land in which the mine would be blasting, includes or runs in close proximity to various ponds and
creeks. Wildlife in our area would be harshly affected.
3)There are major concerns as to how the mine will impact our community's water table, and concerns of
homes' wells running dry. Who would be responsible for our wells; would Alamance Aggregrate be liable?
Who would hold them accountable?
4) Sylvan Elementary is in alarmingly close proximity to the proposed site. Has there been an evaluation as to
how this mine will affect the air quality for our students and teachers? There is a clinic attached to Sylvan
Elementary,which serves and is a great asset to our community, as there are no other available immediate
health care providers in our area. How will this mine impact the clean water and clean air that is vital to the
clinic's everyday operation?
We ask that our community's concerns be heard and addressed. Thank you very much for your time and
attention to this matter.
Regards,
Megan Stanfield
t

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 7:23 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] No Snow Camp Mine
---Original Message-----
From: Nancy Steelman [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 4:25 PM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] No Snow Camp Mine
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Send all suspicious email as an
attachmentto Report Spam.<mailto:[e-mail]>
As a concerned resident of the area I attended the meeting at Sylvan. We are concerned for our air quality,water
quality and frankly the amount of water they would use making wells go dry. Contamination of wells and fields from
flooding on people and live stock are a concern. The air quality around the school children is also very concerning. We
live with the Colonial Pipeline running across our property. Blasting close to the pipeline is not a good idea. There is
absolutely nothing good that can be gained from this other than making a few people rich while impacting the livelihood
of community business and health.
Nancy Steelman
Sent from my iPad
1

Norman Jackson, Jr.
262 Clark Road
Snow Camp, NC 27349
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a concerned resident of Snow Camp, NC. I live adjacent to the proposed quarry
on Clark Road. I received a letter from Alamance Aggregates LLC the first week of
October 2018, informing me that they had applied for a State Mining Permit. It was
quite a shock to learn that Alamance County had already approved their plan.
From what I understand through some quick research is the fact that this company is an
LLC, based out of Wyoming. And some of the major partners involved with the
company have been less than honest in the past.
The possibility of all that can go wrong with mining a quarry should be enough to stop it
now and ask why should they be allowed to continue?
I could repeat all the reasons for not allowing the proposed quarry to become a reality
but will only reiterate a couple of major concerns:
1. The water in the ground in the area on which we all depend is at risk. There is
only so much fresh water in the world.
2. The retaining /sediment pond that they plan to build will only have a 200,000
gallon capacity when they will be pumping as much as 500,000 gallons out daily
and the sediment pond could be drained when they deem necessary. So the suff
they are trying to retain could end up in the Haw River and beyond.
This matter depends on you and the State of North Carolina to carefully consider.
Please do not make a decision that you may later regret. Think of the future of our
earth. Good planets are hard to find.
Best regards,
Norman Jackson, Jr.

of the prominent natural landmarks that these two pilots used as a reference point was Major
Hill which is located in close proximity to the proposed mining site. If flight instructors/pilots
from any airport still utilize Major Hill as a reference, how will daily dynamite blasts affect the
air space above the blasting site for small planes flying at low altitudes?This is a question that
warrants an answer.
Lastly, I want to address the reclamation plan and the proposed recreational lake that will be
the end result when the mining operation ceases. Abandoned quarries/lakes typically become
remote havens for trespassers; bad behavior, littering and accidental drownings much like the
Soapstone Trail Lake was when we first moved to Snow Camp. The scenario for another
unmonitored abandoned quarry/recreational area will be the exact same and may be
perceived as a hazardous public nuisance by some nearby residents.
In closing, I am extremely grateful to everyone in the community who has been working so
diligently to gather relevant facts and information, and I appreciate the opportunity to provide
these comments. We moved here in 1991 because of the land and the culture of the area. It fit
well with our lifestyle and our love of nature, animals and the outdoors. I never imagined that
almost 30 years later our six acres could become sandwiched between two heavy industrial
developments—both products of the same, somewhat outdated, county ordinance, and their
close proximity to one another is not balanced or fair to residents. This is not judicious planning
—it appears that no planning or thought went into this decision whatsoever, and if the County
planning director looked at the proposed quarry site on the Alamance GIS map when this
application was received, he/she would have immediately seen that the proposed site is across
the road from a 40-acre solar farm. This alone should have facilitated further consideration
with regard to judicious placement and balance. However,the Alamance GIS,the site to which
users are directed from Alamance County's homepage, is not a current representation of
existing parcels and does not show the solar farm at all. This is unacceptable considering that
the solar farm was completed almost three years ago and its absence from this aerial view may
have contributed to what appears to have been a hasty, uninformed and haphazard decision by
a single person. As a citizen and taxpayer,this is unacceptable.
Regardless,Alamance County assumes no responsibility for errors on the GIS mapping (as
stated in their disclaimer) but this is a significant omission and may be a contributing factor to
this situation. This application/operation is littered with red flags beginning with the credibility
of Alamance Aggregates LLC, and the citizens of this rural community are worried. I sincerely
hope that the State will carefully and thoughtfully consider the validity and legitimacy of our
concerns as they relate to water supply and air quality, our safety, environmental protection,
and the general welfare and future stability of this community.
Sincerely,
Stephanie J.Thurman
Enclosure: Chad Threatt notification letter

desecrate the very core of not being in substantial compliance with the Act, another criteria for
denial of this permit.
Quite frankly, the entire business structure of Alamance Aggregates, LLC is sketchy. Exactly
who owns this company and where is their office? Do they have experience in operating a
crushed stone quarry? If so, will their operation utilize the highest level of industry standards
and will they adhere to established best practices? Can they provide references who will attest
to the quality of their work, their integrity and level of customer service? These are critical
questions to which the State of North Carolina should seek answers because Alamance
Aggregates LLC wants to work/conduct business in Alamance County, and should be required to
pass a comprehensive background check. There is too much risk involved in permitting a quarry
on this site to not complete what should be a fundamental part of this process.
I also want to point out that Article 7.(b1)(b3) of the Act requires/requests that various State
agencies review the application and submit a written response to their review within 30 days
from the date of the request. Mr. Eric Galamb, Application Review Coordinator for the Division
of Soil &Water Conservation, received this review request from Brenda Harris in a memo dated
October 1, 2018, however, no response was received from this agency by the requested date.
This is also a violation of the Act and one that has resulted in the absence of critical information
related to water and soil conservation with regard to this application/operation.
Every resident in Snow Camp lives quite well off well-water therefore we are very concerned
that the proposed operation will have unwarranted and unjustified adverse effects on potable
water supplies. Another question is who will be responsible for monitoring the water levels in
our wells? And who will monitor this monitoring? Risk of contamination to surface water and
groundwater supplies are proven hazards around quarries like the one being proposed, as is
continued exposure to toxic airborne particulate matter emitting from the site. It is important
to know who will be held accountable for these requirements in order to keep us safe. The
proposed operation will undoubtedly disrupt and displace many species of wildlife once again
and expose them and their environment to harmful toxins (reminder that wildlife was recently
displaced due to the construction of the solar farm, and we are still dealing with storm water
runoff/erosion/standing water issues on our property from this project). The trauma that the
proposed operation would inflict upon our community will be intrusive and unhealthy, and has
the potential to impact generations of residents.
There are simply too many risks associated with utilizing this property for a mining operation.
The close proximity of Sylvan School to the Colonial Pipeline and the proximity of the Pipeline
to the operation's blasting area present a substantial potential physical hazard to the School
and the safety of 350 faculty, staff and students who occupy the campus on any given school
day. The Sylvan Community Health Center is also located on the School's campus and is the
community's only medical facility.
Approximately 40 years ago, a friend was taking flight lessons and I tagged along on one of his
sessions with him and his instructor. We departed from Causey Airport in Liberty, NC, and one

ANDY& STEPHANIE THURMAN
149 CLARK ROAD
SNOW CAMP,NC 27349
December 14, 2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
NC Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
Dear Dr. Taylor:
Per your letter dated November 20, 2018, 1 am writing to report a violation by Alamance
Aggregates, LLC with regard to their mining application and the 1,000 feet parameter for
landowner notification as required by Article 7.(b1)(b2) of The Mining Act of 1971 § 74-
50, Permits—General. My husband Andy and I reside at 149 Clark Road, Parcel ID 102696, in
Snow Camp which is approximately 650 feet, cornerto corner,from the property owned by
Snow Camp Property Investments, LLC. We did not receive a certified letter notifying us of the
proposed mining operation which is a violation of the The Mining Act's requirement and is a
criteria for denying this mining permit.
I would also like to specifically address the actual notification letter referenced above that Chad
Threatt mailed to adjacent landowners in early October 2018, and how the letters' content is a
violation of the Act (reminder that our names were not on the list that Mr. Threatt provided
with the application packet. It is my understanding that all letters were identical and highly
unprofessional: no letterhead, no signature, cryptic and poorly composed. I obtained the
enclosed copy of this letter from a neighbor whose name was on the list). The letters'flatly
stated that "This operation will have no impact on your property in any way". This is
completely untrue when studies and research prove that mining quarries like the one proposed
by Alamance Aggregates LLC, do impact adjacent properties and the environment in a plethora
of ways. No one can predict exactly when, exactly where or to whom, but the Mining Act does
not require that, it only requires that we submit information to reinforce and support our
position that it will, and we have sufficiently done so. Our opposition to this operation is
warranted and justified and to diminish our anxiety over the risks involved, and to dismiss our
concerns without a comprehensive analysis of the issues that includes a thorough and
comprehensive review of Alamance Aggregates, LLC, would be irresponsible and reckless.
Unless Chad Threatt has a crystal ball and knows something that the scientists do not, or unless
he and his anonymous colleagues are geniuses who have discovered how to defy the third law
of physics that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction,then the content of Mr.
Threatt's letter is deceptively misleading and completely untrue. Dishonesty and deception

Sent from my iPhone
z

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:04 AM
To: Wehner, Judy
Subject: FW: [External] ***URGENT-No Snow Camp Mine***
From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 201811:02 AM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>
Cc: NoSnow CampMine<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] ***URGENT-No Snow Camp Mine***
Report
Dear Dr. Kenneth Taylor:
The purpose of this letter is to request the state to deny the permit for the proposed Alamance Aggregates
Company's application to locate a gravel pit mine at 1549 Ouakenbush Rd in Snow Camp, NC As a person
who lives in close proximity to this project I have serious concerns about the environmental and safety issues
this presents to our community. These include potential groundwater and well water contamination, dust and
air quality,increased traffic and the effects on wildlife. The project is located near several bodies of water and
creeks including a 35 acre lake that serves as a habitat for several species of fish, migratory water fowl (geese
mallard and wood ducks, hooded merganser) and permanent fowl such as hawks, osprey, blue herons and
American bald eagles. In addition,the lake has a soil dam and we are unsure how vibrations from blasting may
affect its integrity.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that you are making a decision that will
directly affect hundreds of tax paying citizens and the environment in which we live and raise our
families. You have the responsibility to prevent this from happening as the effects are not only harmful to our
environment but fatal to the members of Snow Camp as well.
We hope you understand our concerns and thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
David Snyder
950 Soapstone Trail
Snow Camro, NC 27349
Thanks,
David Snyder
i

7415'McBane Mill Rd.
Graham,NC 27253
2

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18,2018 8:05 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
From: Kathryn Fiscelli [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17,2018 10:56 AM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>; [e-mail]
Subject: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Re
�oqS am
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC. 27699-1612
Re: Planned Gravel Quarry in Snow Camp
Dear Dr. Taylor
I write to convey to you that I wish to join with the people who want to stop the establishment of a gravel
quarry in Snow Camp by Alamance Aggregates, LLC. I live nearby in Eli Whitney(7415 McBane Mill Road)
and a private well supplies water to our house. We also have underground springs on our property that feed in
to a small creek that empties into the Haw River. I am concerned that the mine will adversely affect the purity
of both the air and our water. I am also concerned about the activity that the mine would bring such as noise,
blasting, and increased truck traffic. We moved to this area to enjoy the peace and quiet,the wildlife, and to
grow our own food, etc. The establishment of this mine could have a detrimental effect on all this.
I am also appalled that the county of Alamance would approve such a permit without proper study and diligence
of the impact of such a mine on the community.
I hope that you can carefully consider the pleas of the many people who live and work bordering this tract of
land who want to stop the establishment of this mine. Please add my comments to the many fighting this mine
and help us to retract the approval that the county has granted.
Should you need further information or input from me, I can be reached at the below address.
Respectfully,
Kathryn Fiscelli
t

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18,2018 8:06 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 10:11 AM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
CAU ION:
Report Spam.
Dr. Kenneth Taylor-DEQ:
Dear Sir,
I have recently moved to Snow Camp,North Carolina to improve the quality of life for my family and myself. I
have been a resident for nearly four months and soon after I had moved into the community I learned of the
possibility of a mine being located within a mile or so from our home. If I knew of this before I purchased the
home I would not have moved to the area in which we now live.
I am concerned mainly with the effects of a nearby mine upon my well, air quality, noise and traffic and the
effects of stress upon livestock on nearby farms not to mention any adverse effects upon wildlife and ecosystem
in this area..
I have been in close contact with the No Snow Camp Mine Steering Committee and although I was unable to
voice my concerns at the 12/5/2018 State Public Hearing held in my daughter's school, I stand behind their
effort and support their mission.
At this time, I hope and pray that our elected officials uphold our plea and decide not to permit a mine company
to take up business in our quaintly peaceful community. I believe it will not improve the quality of life for my
family, myself or others in my area. It will not improve the wildlife,farm livestock or underground wells in our
area either.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my sentiment as a good, patriotic and current citizen of Snow Camp,
North Carolina who does not welcome the idea of a mine being located near my new home.
Best Regards,
Zackary C. Swan
7251 Holman Mill Road
Snow Camp,NC 27349
t

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:07 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Concerned about Snow Camp
-----Original Message----
From:Jill Edwards [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17,2018 9:39 AM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Concerned about Snow Camp
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified.Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:[e-mail]>
Hi Mr. Miller,
I am very concerned about the mine coming to Snow Camp. I am concerned about my health,the health of my small
children,the health of the elderly,the health of the community,the health of all the elementary school kids who attend
Sylvan where they have recess outside. I am concerned about the health of the wildlife. I am concerned about the rivers
and streams. I am concerned about the health of our water table and the effect the mine will disrupt the environment
where I call home. I have called Snow Camp home for the past 36 years and plan to call it home for the remainder of my
years. The mine is not a good fit for Snow Camp. Jill Sent from my iPhone
1

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:07 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Snow Camp Mine
From: Mike Dunning [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 9:12 AM
To: Miller, David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Snow Camp Mine
Dear Dr. Kenneth Taylor DEQ,
I am a resident of Snow Camp and wish to express my objection the proposed mine. Our local County Commissioners
made a mistake in 2008 that allowed this to be fast tracked to improve the local economy. But,that is not the reason I
and most other residents are concerned.
How can you pump 500,000 gallons of water from this mine DAILY and not affect the water table? If you assume that all
the other impacts are minimal,this effect on the water supply is unacceptable. Did you note how close the local
elementary school is located?
Please consider the other objections offered by residents as well. It the impact on water cannot be mitigated. As a
result, we need the State to protect our local environment until we can correct mistakes made at the local level
approving this environmental catastrophe.
Regards,
Mike Dunning
Account Executive
Atlantic Intermediaries
336-506-9219 Direct
336-226-3046 Main
1

Please keep in mind that the EPA algorithm estimates cumulative risk which is based on cumulative exposure;
so over a lifetime, that cumulative exposure will increase. If this mine is established, it will be in the vicinity of
Sylvan Elementary School with 5. These kids will be at this school for approximately 180 days out of a year for
the next 6 years; over those 6 years, 5 days a week, and 8 hours a day, this mine will continue to add to their
cumulative exposure of crystalline silica and thus adding to their cumulative risk of developing silicosis over their
lifetime.
Air and water pollution are everywhere in the 21"century; we all need to deal with it and limit our exposures and
risks when we can and if we choose to do so. I choose to avoid it when I can, others may not care. But that's
what life is: Life is made up of a series of choices and managing risks; sometimes we as individuals get to make
those choices for ourselves; other times, people in power make those choices and manage risks for us that will
affect our quality of life. With this mine, you will make a choice that will impact the cumulative risk for others,
including the thousands of children that will attend this school over several decades while this mine is functioning.
By choosing to support this mine, North Carolina representatives (you) choose to 1) increase the risk of lower
natural groundwater levels which has the capacity to impact fire safety, 2) increase the risk of groundwater
pollution with toxic chemicals and 3) increase the risk of developing debilitating lung diseases for the children
and residents in the nearby vicinity; or, you can choose to mitigate these risks by revoking the permit of the Snow
Camp Mine.
Please contact me with any questions regarding the topics I have addressed above at 984-355-0813 or
[e-mail]
Sincerely,
James M. Davison, Ph.D.
5441 Longspur Rd
Snow Camp,NC 27349
References
1) hftps://www.odc.gov/feature iting silicosis/index html
2) hftPs://www.osha-gov/Pubil flignsis html
3) https://Cfr)ub eoa gov/ncea/risk/recordisplav cfm?deid 12999
4) Shiraki R and Holman B.Airborne respirable silica near a sand and gravel facility in central California: XRD
and elemental analysis to distinguish source and background quartz. Environ Sci Techno/.
2002;36(23):4956-4961
5) Bhagia LJ. Non-occupational exposure to silica dust. Indian J Occup Environ Med.2012;16(3):95-100
6) his://www.frontiersin org/articles/10 3389/feart 2018 00111/full
7) http.//www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-mafic-and-felsic/

from two pneumothoraxes caused by tears in my lung tissue linked to my asthma. I am happy to say my asthma
is now well controlled, but my children,4 and 1 years old, are predisposed to developing this respiratory disease.
It is well established that air pollution is associated with asthma (CDC website). For example, large and small
urban areas of our country have significantly higher prevalence of childhood asthma compared to rural areas of
our country (Lawson et al 2017) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedl28056923. Two types of air pollution can
trigger asthma attacks: ozone pollution (found in smog) and particle pollution (found in haze, smoke and dust)
https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/asthma-flyer.pdf. Crushed stone quarries, like the proposed Snow Camp Mine,
generate a dangerous particle pollution called respirable crystalline silica that are emitted in the form of a dust.
These microscopic molecules evade building ventilation filters, travel for miles and represent a significant risk
for developing many chronic lung diseases, including asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and silicosis (1).
Silicosis is a progressive, disabling and often fatal lung disease that can also lead to lung cancer, COPD, and
Tuberculosis (2). Crystalline silica represent such a significant public health concern that the EPA developed an
algorithm to define the cumulative risk of developing silicosis in relation to dust exposure (3). To reduce this risk,
modem gravel facilities try to limit dust emissions; yet, they can still emit at least 60 micrograms per cubic meter
of respirable silica as far as 750 meters away or further from the mine site (4). Thus, mining in the snow camp
area may result in abnormally high cumulative risks for developing silicosis. If the Snow Camp Mine becomes
operational, based on the EPA algorithm and the concentration of silica 750 meters away, children born in this
area after the mine opens and that remain in this area for their entire life have a 99.6% chance of developing
silicosis over that lifetime (Continuous exposure = TWA occupational exposures x (5 days/7 days) x (10 m3 air
breathed at work/20 m3 total air breathed in a day); F(CD) = 1 — [1+CDva x el'Ni1l]-1 (3-5). This conjecture is
supported by a 2012 study that found the prevalence of silicosis in residents in the vicinity of stone cutting
industries was as high as 12.6% (5). Importantly, soils near Snow Camp are composed of felsic and dacitic lavas
which have very high silica contents (6 and 7) suggesting dangerous dust exposures and thus risk of silicosis
may be higher than estimated. To help facilitate the understanding of the cumulative risk of developing silicosis
based on varying concentrations of respirable
crystalline silica dust, I generated the following graph 1
ra 0.9
(Figure 1) which illustrates the risk of silicosis over 78 'FLc o.e
�00 uglm"3
years (average lifespan in United States). The figure m 0.7 —gguglm"3
p T 0.6 �O uglm"3
indicates that for residents in the immediate vicinity of o & 0.5 70 uglm"3
s- — O uglm"3
the mine where silica dust exposures Y greater osures are like) 0.3 — ugrm"3
� 0.3 --ao uglm"3
02
than 60 micrograms per cubic have a 50 — 60% risk of m 02 ugrm"3
Q. 0.1 glm"3
developing silicosis after 18 years of exposure (the o —
0 13 26 39 52 65 78
approximate amount of time a newborn will live in the Years exposed to X micrograms per cubic meter of
respirable cristalline silica
residence and leave home). Please note, these Figure 1: Cumulative risk of developing silicosis over a lifetime
estimates are only for the risk of developing silicosis. based on various levels of constant silica dust exposure.concentrations of silica dust are as high as 60 micrograms per cubic
Silica dust is associated with a myriad of other health
meter or higher as far as 750 meters away or more from the mine site.
Therefore,after 22 years of exposure,residents within 750 meters away
concerns as discussed earlier. have-50%chance of developing silicosis.

12 December2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
Dear Dr. Taylor,
Thank you for the time to address my concerns regarding the Snow Camp Mine.
My name is James Davison and I live at 5441 Longspur Rd, Snow Camp NC. This address is approximately 5
miles from the putative Snow Camp Mine Site. I live in the Cane Creek HOA-managed development with
approximately 40 single-family homes and still growing. I have a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Physiology and have
been working in health-related fields for 10 years. I have several concerns regarding ground water and air
pollution that I will address below:
My development shares a community well managed by AQUA NC. By the time my development is complete,
this community well will supply water to over 100 families. The permit for the Snow Camp Mine indicates the
mine will dig to a depth of 325 feet below the surface and pump out 500,000 gallons of water a day. A research
article prepared for the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources addresses Hydraulic Impacts of
Quarries and Gravel Pits. In this article, the authors discovered that 6 of the 8 studied Limestone, Sand or Gravel
mines either significantly depleted groundwater levels or rerouted the natural flow paths of groundwater and
affected water supply to surrounding areas. Therefore, rock quarries that continually pump out water, like the
Snow Camp Mine, have the capacity to drain nearby lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, farmlands, reservoirs and
wells. Of note, our local fire departments rely on these farmland ponds, water points and reservoirs to fill their
fire trucks and protect our families from home fires, forest fires, school fires and gas line explosions (a threat
discussed in the hearing).
Further, sand and gravel quarries commonly use molecules called polyacrylamides as a flocculant (a filtering
mechanism) to improve water treatment. httcs://www.ncbi.nim.nih cov/oubmed/?term=PAM+acrvlamide+microbiota+mine
These flocculants are often contaminated with a carcinogenic and neurotoxic molecule called acrylamide (which
is used to make the filter)which seeps into the wastewater and sludge and negatively impacts the environment.
These toxic molecules can enter our drinking water; for my own Cane Creek housing development,
contamination of our one water source will impact 100 families. These chemicals also contaminate the local
farmlands. The crops and livestock exposed to these molecules could then end up at our family dinner tables.
https://www.fda.gov/food/f`oodbomeilinesscontaminants/chemicalcontaminants/ucm053569.htm#2
Air quality has always been a personal concern of mine. As a child and during my time in college, I had severe
asthma; I was in the hospital, treated multiple times with steroids to support lung function, and even suffered

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:08 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Attachments: NO SNOW CAMP MINE Meeting.pdf
From:Jim Davison [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 9:10 AM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Dear Dr. Kenneth Taylor,
Please find a PDF attachment that contains my written comments related to the 12/5 State Public Hearing
regarding the permit for the Stone Quarry located in Snow Camp,NC. My apologies if you are receiving this
document twice as I sent you a hard copy by mail as well;however, I wanted to ensure that you would receive
the comments by this evening's deadline.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Jim
t

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:04 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
From:Jennifer Snyder[[e-mail]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 11:39 AM
To: Miller,David<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Written comment for 12/5 State Public Hearing
Dear Dr, Kenneth Taylor:
The purpose of this letter is to request the state to deny the permit for the proposed Alamance Aggregates
Company's application to locate a gravel pit nine at 1549 Quakenbush Rd in Snow Camp, NC. As a person
who lives in close proximity to this project I have serious concerns about the environmental and safety issues
this presents to our community. These include potential groundwater and well water contamination, dust and
air quality, increased traffic and the effects on wildlife. The project is located near several bodies of water and
creeks including a 35 acre lake that serves as a habitat for several species of fish,migratory water fowl (geese
mallard and wood ducks,hooded merganser) and permanent fowl such as hawks, osprey, blue herons and
American bald eagles. In addition the lake has a soil dam and we are unsure how vibrations from blasting may
affect its integrity.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that you are making a decision that will
directly affect hundreds of tax paying citizens and the environment in which we live and raise our
families. You have the responsibility to prevent this from happening as the effects are not only harmful to our
environment but fatal as well.
We hope you understand our concerns and thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Snyder
950 Soapstone Trail
Snow Camp, NC 27349
t

April N. Williams
9419 Morrow Mill Road
Mebane, NC 27302
December 17, 2018
Dr. Kenneth Taylor
NC Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC. 27699-1612
Re: Snow Camp Gravel Pit Mine
Dear Dr. Taylor:
I am writing to you on behalf of my mother, Glenda Yount, regarding the proposed opening of a
gravel pit mine in Snow Camp, NC.
My mother is 71 years old and lives in an apartment in Swepsonville, NC, just down the road
from Snow Camp. In addition to a number of chronic and acute illnesses, my mom was
diagnosed two years ago with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic
inflammation in her lungs that makes it very difficult for her to get the sufficient air she needs to
breathe and function in her day-to-day life. She wears oxygen to help with this, but she was
advised by her doctors to avoid all lung irritants, including things like her aerosol hairspray, air
fresheners, sanitizing sprays, and basic household cleaners—things we all take for granted as
being safe, but because of the state of her lungs, she no longer can.
I shudder to think what further damage her lungs may sustain--and the devastating
consequences to her quality of life--should she start breathing in microscopic (potentially
carcinogenic) particles from a nearby gravel pit. I also worry about the harmful effects of such a
mine on groundwater and residential wells.
I am the mother of two small children, ages 6 and 3, and we too live relatively close to the
proposed mine; we're just four miles from Saxapahaw and the Haw River. As with older adults
like my mom, young children are at increased risk to the damage caused by pollutants from
gravel pits.
On behalf of my children, my mom, the rest of our family, and so many other families who live
near Snow Camp and in Snow Camp, I implore you to stop the development of this gravel pit
mine, for the health and safety of our community.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
April Williams

Wehner, Judy
From: Miller, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 7:33 AM
To: Wehner,Judy
Subject: FW: [External] No Snow Camp Mine
Attachments: Snow Camp Mine letter.docx
From: April Williams [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 1:13 PM
To: Miller, David <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] No Snow Camp Mine
Re-part-Sp am
Dear Dr. Kenneth Taylor,
My name is April Williams, I am writing to you on behalf of my mother, Glenda Yount,regarding the proposed
opening of a gravel pit mine in Snow Camp,NC.
My mother is 71 years old and lives in an apartment in Swepsonville,NC,just down the road from Snow Camp.
In addition to a number of chronic and acute illnesses,my mom was diagnosed two years ago with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic inflammation in her lungs that makes it very difficult for her
to get the sufficient air she needs to breathe and function in her day-to-day life. She wears oxygen to help with
this, but she was advised by her doctors to avoid all lung irritants, including things like her aerosol hairspray, air
fresheners, sanitizing sprays, and basic household cleaners--things we all take for granted as being safe,but
because of the state of her lungs, she no longer can.
I shudder to think what further damage her lungs may sustain--and the devastating consequences to her quality
of life--should she start breathing in microscopic (potentially carcinogenic) particles from a nearby gravel pit. I
also worry about the harmful effects of such a mine on groundwater and residential wells.
I am the mother of two small children, ages 6 and 3, and we too live relatively close to the proposed mine; we're
just four miles from Saxapahaw and the Haw River. As with older adults like my mom, young children are at
increased risk to the harmful health effects caused by pollutants from gravel pits.
On behalf of my children, my mom, the rest of our family, and so many other families who live near Snow
Camp and in Snow Camp, I implore you to stop the development of this gravel pit mine, for the health and
safety of our community.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
April Williams
Word Document of letter is attached.
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