Update: 5 Months and Counting

It is September now and no decision apparent yet.  It has been approximately 4 plus months since the close of the public comment period and a ruling has not been published for the application for a shale mining permit.  CARE members have not relaxed.  Continuing ground work is being done to deal with whatever decision is made by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

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Planning Ahead

Potomac Riverkeeper representatives met with CARE members to discuss the current and future status of the North Mountain Shale, LLC application before the WVDEP.  This application to operate a quarry mine next to the historic town of Gerrardstown, West Virginia is being fought by citizens of the area as well as environment protection organizations concerned about the quality of drinking and recreational water supplies, impact on a historic area and the general quality of life of the residents surrounding the purposed quarry site.

Potomac Riverkeeper is aligning with CARE in preparation for a continued fight in the legal system if the WVDEP's ruling approves the application to mine in the area.  Join this effort by supporting Potomac Riverkeeper. 

Click here for more about Potomac Riverkeeper organization.

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Registered Letters

People are receiving letters from North Mountain Shale (NMS) in response to their comments and objections filed with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).  The NMS letters attempt to explain away the objections and concerns of CARE and the concerned citizens of Berkeley County and surrounding areas.  This is to be expected as North Mountain Shale continues to press for approval of their mining application.

There is still no indication which way the WVDEP will rule.  Regardless, plans are in the works just in case the ruling is favorable to North Mountain Shale to take the matter into court.  Hopefully this will not be necessary if the WVDEP turns away the application.

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 CARE - Dedicated to Protecting the North Mountain Environment

At this time, the mining application is in the process of review and response to the issues and comments submitted by everyone.  The public hearings also became part of this process.  The official comment period is closed as of now but you can still send comments in if you wish.  They may not be included in the “official” process but can’t do any harm.  See the  “Comment Period” menu icon on the  left as  to where  to send letters.

We are, in fact, in a holding state to see what the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection does next.

No Mining in this Historic Area!!

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You will notice some trimming of this web site as out of date or old information and data is being deleted now.  This should make web pages load faster for both dial up and high speed users.

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Civil War Reenactor Ken Mattson
 Guarding Apple Chapel for the Rally

The dye trace study commissioned by the Berkeley County Public Service Water District has been completed.  The study, done by GeoConcepts Engineering, Inc. of Ashburn, Virginia, indicates that water flow from the purposed North Mountain Shale, LLC  quarry site is connected to Marshy Dell Spring and Springdale Well.

click here for map of spring and well 

 This bears out the concerns expressed by CARE about the safety and quality of public drinking water supplies.  While the study focuses on sampling at Marshy Dell and Springdale, it does not stretch reality to think the private drinking water wells along the same aquifer system will also be affected.

 To read the Berkeley County Public Service Water District letter to West Virginia  DEP and the dye trace study click on the link below:

 Click here for the Berkeley County Public Service Water District link

Letter is listed as North Mountain Shale WV DEP Letter 02-23-10 and the dye test is listed as Dye Trace Summary Report

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Our issues with locating an industrial quarry

on the Carr Farm in the middle of

the residential area of Gerrardstown:

1 - Water

The location of the quarry is right on top of a major Mill Creek water table recharge area.  This has the irreversible potential of damaging that water source through changing the water source travel and adding pollution to it.  Major wells for Glenwood Forest may lose water sources and private wells, farm ponds and public fire protection ponds will lose their water sources from both springs and ground water flow.  Additional TMDL loads on Mill Creek will affect operations of Berkeley County Water Plant drawing from LeFevre Springs, violating federal, state and local water pollution agreements.

2 - Property Values

The placing of an industrial quarry on the Carr Farm which is surrounded by fast growing residential area will cause a financial loss to citizens due to depreciation of property value as residential property.  Future residential development expecting to locate in a scenic quiet setting will be diminished or stopped, affecting Berkeley County’s tax income.

3 - Historic & Aesthetic Values

The destruction of the forested side of North Mountain will be evident for years for miles.  This has the potential of destroying the historic value of the historical homes, churches and town.  Visitors to Berkeley County following the George Washington Historical Trail will not likely want to linger or photograph a historic area with an open dirt mountain face in the background.

4 - Health

Earth removal at elevations above the village of Gerrardstown and surroundings will shower the area with dust and air borne debris.  The contents of which will be unknown until damage has occurred to the elderly and children of the area.  Large sediment ponds will increase insect exposure and its related diseases, contaminating existing ground water resources.

5 - Safety

Industrial traffic in and around the village will affect the freedom of movement now enjoyed by the citizens, including children, in the quiet residential area that enjoys, up to now, purely residential neighborhoods.

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Protest at Continental Brick turns out citizens

See OUR PROTEST under INFORMATION for more photographs 

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Permit Hearings Guide

It is very important to read the West Virginia Permit & Hearings Guide.  Your comments, both mailed in & verbal at the hearing must be on target or they may be ineffective.  This file is large but important.  Be sure to read the comments section.

The Guide

The section of the Guide that is most important in submitting comments is the following extraction from the guide:

Submitting Comments

"When submitting your questions or comments on a proposed permit application, send them to the address in the notice and always include the application number and facility name."

"Include convincing statements of how the proposed application improves or degrades the environment (air, land or water), and complies with or violates state or federal regulations."

"Comments should be detailed but concise in describing why the permit should or should not be issued. Comments should be substantive with information to support your stance on the issue."

"If possible, include studies and federal guidance about how permits should West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection 3 Guide to permits and appeals be written. If you quote studies from a website or in standard research journals, provide the name and author of the study or send a copy of the actual study."

 "It is your responsibility to provide evidence during the public comment period, not later."

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We Care Do You? 

 Historic Mount Olive Church - Gerrardstown

The quarry is at their back door  

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