DORRANCE TOWNSHIP --  Slusser Brothers, a subsidiary of Harrisburg-based Pennsy Supply, Inc., today announced the creation of a website that will help keep employees, vendors and neighbors informed of the effort to continue the operation of the Small Mountain Quarry in Dorrance Township, Luzerne County.

The website is located at:  www.saveourquarryjobs.com
 
“There are 150 families and dozens of Luzerne County businesses that depend upon this quarry.  We want to keep them informed of the company’s efforts to prevent this quarry from shutting down,” said Patrick Bartorillo, General Manager.  “This website is one way we plan to keep them informed of updates and background on our project.”

Bartorillo noted that the current quarry, located on the north side of Small Mountain Road, is scheduled to exhaust its materials in the next few years.  Slusser Brothers is seeking to continue the quarry on the south side of road in an area that is zoned as a “Heavy Industrial Zoning District,” which allows for mining.

In December 2006, the company applied to the Dorrance Township Zoning Hearing Board for a variance that would allow a conveyor to transport material from the south side of the road to the north side.  The company produced expert witnesses at public hearings to discuss the project and how it would meet local, state and federal regulations.

On July 19, the zoning hearing board denied the company’s application for a variance for the conveyor system.  The company, in turn, appealed the decision to Luzerne County Court and is awaiting a hearing on the matter.

On September 27, Slusser Brothers filed a new application with Dorrance Township that eliminated the need for a conveyor and, thus, the need for a variance from the zoning hearing board.  The company is awaiting approval of its new application while continuing to pursue its appeal in Luzerne County Court.

“We need to pursue all avenues because time is running out,” Bartorillo said.  “After we receive local approval, we will need to secure permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection to operate the quarry in the new location.  This can be a long process, and we can’t take a chance with our employees who depend on the quarry for their livelihoods.” 

The new website will feature information on the project, as well as interviews with quarry employees and officials.  The site will also feature past press releases and news coverage of the project.  There will be a section for employees, vendors and neighbors to share their thoughts and concerns with the company about the project.

“We want this website to be interactive, so that we can share information with our employees and the public and they, in turn, can share their thoughts with us,” Bartorillo said.  “Hopefully, this website will be a good tool to keep everyone informed about the progress of this vitally important project.”

Slusser Brothers is a major supplier of asphalt, concrete and road materials for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and contractors in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Small Mountain Quarry supplies an “E” rated aggregate, which is a skid resistance rating required by PennDOT on major traffic routes.  If the quarry is forced to close, the prices for road materials would likely increase, driving up the cost of public projects.

Slusser Brothers has a good record of compliance with local, state and federal agencies.  A company official serves on a township-created Citizens Advisory Committee.  Bartorillo noted that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has continually inspected the quarry operation and has found the quarry in compliance with regulations.

The new application takes into consideration the impact on the surrounding area.  Specifically, the new application calls for:
 

• Installing enclosures to reduce sound. Portions of the necessary crushing and screening equipment will be contained within enclosures so that the noise levels from the quarry will be less than the noise produced by nearby Interstate 81 and therefore essentially unnoticeable to any nearby residents. The nearest residences are almost 1/4 mile from the proposed quarry.
• Maintaining dust control measures.  In addition to the dust reduction from the enclosure of certain equipment, during operations employees will use dust suppression methods to ensure it complies with DEP air quality requirements at all times.
• Maintaining wetlands on the bordering hillside.  All wetlands will be preserved and DEP will monitor the condition of the wetlands to ensure that there is no adverse impact.
  Mine without impact to ground water levels.  A hyrdro-geologist conducted extensive analysis, using DEP-approved methods, and showed that there would be no impact on wells in the surrounding area.

“Small Mountain Quarry wants to be a good a neighbor.  We are doing everything we can to ensure that the continuation of our quarry meets the strict standards of the local, state and federal agencies.”  Bartorillo said.  “We want to remain here for another 50 years and employ a new generation of Dorrance Township and Luzerne County residents.”