“We can’t be a community if we can’t have drinking water,” Snow Camp resident Linda Lee said, “and you’re not wanted here.”
The state Department of Environmental Quality held the public hearing Wednesday‚ Dec. 5, at Sylvan Elementary School.
The state is reviewing the application from Alamance Aggregates to have a crushed-stone operation on 321 acres in the area of Quackenbush, Clark and Snow Camp roads. Of those 321 acres, 29 would be excavated, about 44 acres would hold stockpiles and waste piles‚ and less than four acres would be holding ponds, according to the application submitted to the state Sept. 28.
Snow Camp Fire Chief Darvin Cornett spoke to quiet rumors about the capacity of the department to handle potential problems at the quarry‚ like water rescue, confined space rescue and trench rescue. While he didn’t know whether the mine would come or not, Cornett said the department was planning to start classes in January and would seek grants to pay for necessary new equipment and training.