From the Mountaintop Eagle

Slusser Brothers, a subsidiary of Harrisburg-based Pennsy Supply, Inc., today filed a new application with Dorrance Township to continue the operation of the Small Mountain Quarry. The project would preserve 150 jobs that would be lost if the quarry was forced to close.

On July 19, the Dorrance Township Zoning Hearing Board denied the company's application to operate a quarry on the south side of Small Mountain Road, even though it is a permitted use in the "Heavy Industrial Zoning District." Slusser Brothers has appealed that decision to Luzerne County Court.

"We intend to pursue this project, both with the township and in court, because it is vital to the 150 families that depend on this quarry for their livelihoods," said General Manager Patrick Bartorillo. "In addition, there are dozens of vendors in Luzerne County who sold us $11 million in goods and services last year who also can't afford to have this quarry shut down."

The initial application was filed in December 2006 under the township's old zoning ordinance. The new application is allowed because the Dorrance Township Supervisors passed a new zoning ordinance in early 2007. The new application eliminates the need for a conveyor, which required a "variance" from the Zoning Hearing Board.

The Zoning Hearing Board denied the request for variance for the conveyor. In order to eliminate the need for the conveyor, the new proposal would relocate equipment to the south side of Small Mountain Road.

The present quarry on the north side of Small Mountain Road is scheduled to exhaust its materials in the next few years. This expansion project to the south side of Small Mountain Road would allow the quarry to operate at its present rate for another 50 years.

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 levelsºfrom 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.

In addition to a hydro-geologist, Slusser Brothers presented testimony at public hearings from a geologist, a sound engineer and a blasting expert – all of whom testified that the proposed quarry operation would meet strict state and federal standards.

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.

"Everyone in the region would be adversely impacted if this quarry is forced to close. People would lose jobs, local companies would lose revenue and taxpayers would face higher bills for public projects," Bartorillo said. "We all depend on Small Mountain Quarry."

For further information Patrick Bartorillo 570-455-9361