VIDEO From the June 30th Meeting

Long meeting so we had to break it up into 8 parts. Audio is a little low, too, so you might need to turn it up a bit. Enjoy.

Sort of Says It All, Doesn't It?

Sumner County Residents Oppose Rock Quarry

[ VIDEO Here ]

By Jamey Tucker and Tiani Jones

WKRN – News Channel 2

CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. – Castalian Springs residences met with county leaders on Thursday night to express their concerns about a proposed rock quarry.

Homeowner John Simmons is just one of the residents that is against the idea of opening a rock quarry in the community.

He told Nashville's News 2 he was surprised to learn about the proposed plans.

"I could not believe it. There is no place that you could find that is less suited for this quarry," Simmons said.

In an effort to prevent the quarry from moving into the area, residents have collected hundreds of signatures and formed the "Save Castalian Springs" group.

So... About that $15,000 Fine...

Someone should introduce Tom White to Google.

Company Fined $15,000 for Highwall Violations

WEDNESDAY, 13 APRIL 2011

By Ellen Smith

Two citations for loose material in an overhanging highwall led to $15,000 in fines for Hoover Inc. for failing to correct hazardous conditions in violation of §56.3200. In one citation, the ALJ increased the penalty.

Hoover owns the Lebanon Quarry & Mill, a multi-bench surface-pit rock quarry in Tennessee.

In October 2008, MSHA issued two citations. In one case, MSHA found a 40-ft. highwall contained loose material, including rocks 5 ft. x 3 ft., and overhangs of up to 5 ft. MSHA also found several large cracks along the highwall.  There were no berms or a barrier to prevent people from entering the area of the hazard, and the inspector was concerned that falling rocks could crush or crash through the cabs of the loaders.

The company admitted that they did not remove loose material after blasting; claiming that scaling would be dangerous and not economically feasible. Instead, miners would keep back 15 to 20 ft. from the toe.

ALJ Margaret A. Miller found that MSHA established the violation. Based on the testimony, she said the highwall’s condition “presented a hazard” to workers because bad weather or an explosion could easily cause the loose material to fall.

“The mine could have bermed-off or barricaded the area if it did not want to scale the highwall, however it failed to do so,” the ALJ said.

She also agreed it was S&S because of the falling rock hazard, which “would certainly be serious and potentially fatal” if it fell. Miller, however, increased MSHA’s proposed penalty from $4,099 to $5,000.

In the case of a second violation for §56.3200, the company had a berm, but material had been removed and cleaned right up to the toe.

This highwall also reached 40 ft. high, and also contained large, loose rocks. MSHA said it was S&S, with high negligence and a proposed penalty of $6,624. The ALJ agreed it was S&S and this time, with high negligence. The ALJ noted that MSHA discussed this exact issue with management on a previous occasion, yet loaders had been working directly under the loose material.

The company superintendent was aware of this practice and of the safety standard, and the ALJ agreed that the company “was highly careless in failing to supervise” the worker. Because of the high negligence, the fact that the hazard existed for an extended period and the failure to abate, ALJ Miller increased the fine to $10,000.

REMINDER: Meeting Tonight at 6:00 p.m.

SPREAD THE WORD!

Q&A with Quarry Attorney, Tom White

Thursday, June 30th

6:00 p.m.

Sumner County Administration Bldg.

355 N. Belvedere Drive in Gallatin

(Behind the Wal-Mart)

Quarry Now Knocks on Castalian Springs’ Door

By Mike Towle

The TENNESSEAN

June 29, 2011

It was too good an offer to pass up. In pouring rain locals call a "frog strangler," I jumped into the front passenger seat of the minivan and buckled up. Sitting next to me was the driver and one of Sumner County's most entertaining raconteurs, Gallatin historian and furniture maker extraordinaire John Garrot.

The occasion was a guided tour of that part of Castalian Springs concentrated with some of Middle Tennessee’s most historical landmarks and hallowed grounds. Some of this, such as Wynnewood and Bledsoe's Fort Historic Park, I knew about; other gems such as the Bate House, log-cabin homes tucked into newer structures, and ancient Indian burial grounds, well, let's just say I was among the historically malnourished. Garrott cured me of that. 

One of the contemporary homes we passed belongs to John and Allyson Simons. About a year ago they invested their life savings to buy 10 serene acres off Corum Hill Road and move here from Virginia, unwitting to the life-changing pile of rocks now apparently on the verge of landing at their front doorstep. More on the Simons in a minute. 

Worst Researchers Ever?

I think my favorite part of the News Channel 5 piece is when Tom White, attorney for Western Farm Products, LLC/Hoover, Inc./Who Knows Who Else, is quoted as saying "they're aware of the historical significance of Castalian Springs, but they've researched the property and do not believe they'll disrupt any historical sites"...


Did you catch that? They researched it. But managed to miss the two MAJOR historical sites only hundreds of yards away. Doesn't sound like very thorough research to me.