“The ADEM public hearing for the CreekWood quarry has been postponed. Although the hearing has been postponed, the City of Opelika will continue working in opposition of the quarry and the proposed location. We appreciate the extra time. This will give our experts more time to study the Saugahatchee watershed. Contact CreekWood for more information,” Opelika city officials wrote in a statement.
During a brief phone call with Jeff Majors, managing member of CreekWood Resources LLC, Majors said the reason for the postponement was because of ongoing negotiations. No makeup date has been scheduled as of press time.
“Creekwood Resources has requested ADEM to postpone the public hearing to allow the company additional time to address the community’s questions and concerns regarding the proposed granite quarry in Lee County,” CreekWood representative Elizabeth Revell added in an additional statement.
Word of the proposed project first began to circulate in January after CreekWood applied for air and water permits to construct a granite quarry just north of the Opelika city limits off Lee Road 168. In the weeks since, Opelika and other municipalities across the county have joined together in opposing the quarry.
Following is the public notice the Observer received on March 10 regarding ADEM’s postponement of a public hearing on the Creekwood Quarry project that was supposed to be held March 31. This postponement was requested by Creekwood representatives.
“PUBLIC NOTICE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT AND AIR PERMIT AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
LEE COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has postponed the public hearing that was previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., at the Opelika Performing Arts Center at Opelika High School located at 1700 Bulldog Pkwy, Opelika, AL 36801. The public hearing was scheduled to give the public the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed issuance of air and water permits to CreekWood Resources, LLC for a proposed granite quarry to be located 0.6 miles from the intersection of Lee County Road 168 and US Highway 431, south of Lee County Road 168, Opelika, AL 36801. The postponement was requested by the applicant. ADEM will reschedule a public hearing by giving at least 30 days’ notice of the location, date, and time, if the applicant seeks to continue the permitting process.
The public comment period will remain open until 5:00 PM April 1, 2020, as previously announced. If the permitting process is resumed, opportunity for public comment past April 1 will be provided.
This notice is hereby given on March 10, 2020, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Lance R. LeFleur Director
Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.”