Published: August 31, 2017 |

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Anyone hoping to get a permit from the town to operate a mine over the next six months is out of luck.

The Town Board voted 5-0 Monday to approve a local law imposing a six-month moratorium on the issuing of mining permits under Chapter 80 of the town code. The moratorium would give the board more time to study whether it should prohibit future mines by amending the town zoning code.

The vote followed a public hearing at which four people spoke in favor of the moratorium. Two others, including Seneca Meadows Landfill Regional Manager Kyle Black, did not support the local law.

The law does not impact existing mines, such as Seneca Meadows’ Meadow View Mine at North, Burgess and Powderly Roads.

“This local law does not protect the health and safety of the public, as you say. There are mines in the town and there have been no adverse effects. No one’s been hurt or injured and there have been no problems,” said Bob McGill. “This limits and controls how people can use their property under the Constitution.”

Lee Henry, vice president of Concerned Citizens of Seneca County, strongly supported the moratorium. He called it a “very important step” in protecting the town and its future.

“Waterloo has two current mines. The first is behind the school bus garage off North Road. The town was caught unaware of that one in 1998 and fought with whatever ordinances were in effect at that time, which were little to none addressing land use,” Henry said.

He said it was that experience that led to the first town zoning ordinance in December 2000 to deal with future mines.

“The second mine is currently operating on a 200-acre parcel north of North Road (Meadow View Mine) and is the reason Concerned Citizens of Seneca County was formed in April 2009,” Henry said.

He said mining permits by the state and the town are the object of a court case that has reached the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, with a decision pending.

“Mining is a dead stop. Mining destroys the land, leaving nothing but holes to fill with water. And in the case of the current Seneca Meadows mine, some 45 feet deep,” he added. “It’s a case of destroying land for the sole purpose of covering someone else’s trash and garbage and if left unchecked, expanding onto adjacent acres.

“How do we, with any conviction, address future generations that commercial mining is right and that we, in their interest, allowed these mines to happen? Put a stop to them now.”

He said CCSC supports the town’s new comprehensive plan, citing a section that states “in order to protect the agriculture and natural environment in which the atmosphere of the town of Waterloo is based, the town should prohibit land uses which are intended to strip the environment of natural resources and recommends the town amend its local laws to ensure that commercial mining is not legal in the town of Waterloo.”

Mike Smith said the moratorium gives town officials time to understand what the problems are when deciding whether adjusting the code is the right thing to do.

Georgine Rosata, who lives a short distance from Meadow View Mine and the landfill, also supported the moratorium and opposed the mine.

“Seneca Meadows bought this land for the purpose of mining. Think about what you’re doing in allowing excavation across from the schools,” she said. She said the five-judge Appellate Division Court ruled against the town issuing the mine permit. “How many more judges do you need to tell you it’s wrong?,” Rosata said, adding that she’s nearly 86 and hopes to live long enough to see the mine and landfill closed.

But Black said he’s proud of the Meadow View Mine’s operation, saying it meets or exceeds all regulations. “I know its not subject to this moratorium, but there may be others who would want to add to the tax base who may not be welcome if you limit them by this moratorium. I think mining should be allowed in properly zoned locations,” Black said.

Edward Lerkins said he lived next to a stone mine and said it draws rats, skunks and other “varmints.” He said a clay mine would likely attract even more varmints, plus lure school kids to swim and possibly drown in the ponds left by the excavation.

Later, a motion to pass the local law was approved unanimously and without comment from board members.

Source: Finger Lakes Times

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