On 9/28 the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission completed its report on the proposal for the “East Jackson Quarry”. The NEGRC report is one of the few objective and independent sources available to residents to counter the arguments of Vulcan materials. We obviously cannot match the resources of a multinational corporation.
NEGRC reports compare how well projects adhere to and advance development goals for the region including interests of nearby county, municipality and state governments as well as the jurisdiction itself – in this case Jackson County.
NEGRC reports don’t include a final judgement on a project, but they have flagged numerous issues that Vulcan has failed to address and may not be able to address given the massive scale of the project.
Compatibility with Jackson Comprehensive Plan
The report notes that most of the project area is currently and projected to be agricultural and a small portion suburban.
According to the report:
“The Land Subdivision and Development section of the Agricultural character area’s Implementation Summary states that, “land developments of 2 acres or more, when unrelated to agriculture, forestry, resource land use or public or semi-public use, are inconsistent and should not be allowed.”
In other words, it is on Vulcan to prove that it can remove all impacts from the project on surrounding lands. Nearby residents, businesses and conservationists have of course been skeptical.
Public Health
Residential areas border the northern and western sides of the proposed site. The quarry would negatively impact these communities by creating noise, debris, dust, and heavy truck volume.
Trucking
The report states that 800,000 tons of rock will be extracted daily. A&R Engineering Inc. completed a traffic impact study that projects 342 new daily trips, including 57 AM peak hour trips and 57 PM peak hour trips from the proposed development. Any of these trucks on the small country roads to the west or south or north of the projected would be a disaster waiting to happen. Vulcan promised that they would build on onramp to route all southbound traffic onto 441. However, GDOT WILL NOT ALLOW A SOUTHBOUND RAMP ON 441
“Jonathan Peevy, P.E., District Traffic Engineer, Georgia Department of Transportation
This site will have to utilize access from Old Hwy 441, existing US 441 is limited access in this area, so access drives will not be permitted.
The intersection of US 441 @ SR 334/Old Hwy 441 will need to be improved (additional turn lanes, signal upgrade). “
Groundwater
Vulcan has disputed that the proposed site is a groundwater recharge area. But the report notes:
“The Code of Ordinances also identifies a groundwater recharge area where the proposed site is located in the southeast, shown in the first map below (Jackson County Code of Ordinances).”
And
“Mining has the potential to damage the natural resources located on the site and could negatively affect the water quality and floodplains of the North Oconee River due to chemical and debris runoff.”
And of course, Vulcan intends to drill its own well on the site.
The North Oconee
The North Oconnee is an important source of water to Jackson and jurisdictions downstream. Practically the entire project is within the river’s watershed area.
Currently there is no plan from Vulcan on how they will protect this precious resource
However, the Jackson County Code of Ordinances (dated 11/21/2023) designates the North Oconee River as a protected river and designates the North Oconee River Corridor as an environmental overlay district.
In fact, Athens Clarke County has written a letter of concern:
“Water quality of the North Oconee is already of significant concern; on June 20, 2023, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources identified the North Oconee River as “impaired” and established an Upper Oconee Regional Water Plan to help address growing issues with water quantity and quality. Impacts to the North Oconee River could impact permitting and limitations, already established in permit for Athens-Clarke County.”
Property values
Locating a quarry decreases property values in the surrounding area.
“Residential areas border the northern and western sides of the proposed site. The quarry would negatively impact these communities by creating noise, debris, dust, and heavy truck volume.”
Economic Benefit
Vulcan touts the economic benefit to the county but the report estimates:
“On a per-acre basis, the project would be worth approximately $44,444 and generate approximately $277 in tax revenue.”
This is less than current revenues per acre on many of the nearby properties.
