KRISTEN GAYDOS, Citizens Voice

RICE TWP. — The Department of Environmental Protection will do more testing to determine the effect a proposed quarry expansion may have on nearby wetlands. 

Testimony was completed without resolution Thursday on the proposed Small Mountain Quarry expansion at the latest continued hearing before the Board of Supervisors at Rice Elementary School.

The owner of the quarry, Pennsy Supply Inc., applied to expand operations to the south side of Small Mountain Road nearly two years ago.

Township solicitor James Schneider said Pennsy will submit their application to DEP, and the township will wait for the results of DEP’s testing before holding the next hearing.

“The township has questions we can only answer if we do the DEP testing,” said George Asimos, attorney for Pennsy.

One issue Pennsy will need to contend with is the reclassification of Balliet Run, a stream near the quarry, as high-quality trout waters. Asimos said that might not effect Pennsy’s plan, but they will take it into account.

William Higgs, solicitor for Peggy Lenahan, a resident opposed to the expansion, said he is pleased Pennsy will now submit their application to DEP.

“I’ve been saying for two years they should have done this first,” he said.

Higgs said he will be checking in with DEP frequently once Pennsy submits the application.

“We hope that we get the answers that we’ve been looking for quite some time,” he said.

Patrick Bartorillo, general manager, said the current quarry in three years will be mined out and due to close. Without expanding operations to the new site, he said the estimated 150 employees will be out of jobs and the closure would hurt the local economy.

“It’s been implied that these employees could find work elsewhere, and I think that doesn’t take into account what stable employment does for the local economy and the employee’s family,” he said.

The board will wait for the results of the DEP testing before taking action. The tests may take several months, said Schneider, and it is not known what tests will be completed.