KEVIN HALPERN, Courier Co-Editor
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 8:40 pm

A public hearing was held Tuesday night at the Cannon County Courthouse for a company seeking a permit to discharge treated wastewater and stormwater from a proposed limestone quarry and processing facility off John Bragg Highway.

The hearing was held by the Tennessee Department of Environment  and Conservation's Division of Water Pollution Control.

The purpose of the hearing was to consider public comments on the application for a new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Discharge (NPDES) requested by Stones River Quarry, LLC, Site No. 1.

Stones River Quarry is based in Flat Rock, Indiana. It's president is Brad Ward.

According to Stones River Quarry's application, the project will consist of a limestone quarry, crushing operation and washing facility. The permit boundary covers 65 acres.

The site is located at 962 Bradyville Road, Readyville, in an area located across John Bragg Highway from Parsley's Market, a distance of about 0.2 miles.

No one spoke for or against issuing the NPDES permit at the hearing. The Division of Water Pollution Control has already evaluated Stone River Quarry's application and has made a tentative decision to issue an NPDES permit.

The permit establishes conditions and limitations on discharges of wastewater. The permit does not involve other issues such as zoning, blasting, noise, air pollution, traffic, land use or health and safety questions involving the proposed project.

Cannon County has no zoning laws which would prohibit the land from being used as a quarry.

State officials at the meeting said an air pollution discharge permit would likely be the only other permit required for Stones River Quarry to operate.

The comment period for the NPDES permit extends until September 23. During this time period persons can submit written comments, e-mails, additional date and information for the hearing record to the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control, Mining Section, 3711 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6538. Phone (865) 594-6035 or FAX (865) 594-6105.

Ward said the company hopes to begin operations early next year. He said the company has not completed purchase of the property.

See next week's print edition of the Cannon Courier for additional information.