Public Scoping Session Set on Proposed Redland Quarries NY Inc. Lockport Quarry Permit Modification

Public Comments Invited through January 8; Public Scoping Session December 9

Redland Quarries NY, Inc., is proposing an expansion of its existing quarry located on Hinman Road in the Town of Lockport, Niagara County, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The company's proposal would require a modification to its existing state mining permit and would expand their Lockport quarry by a total of 243.4 acres. DEC is requiring the company to complete a draft scoping document and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address potential environmental impacts associated with its proposal and welcomes community input as it reviews and evaluates these documents. Public comments on the draft scope will be accepted until the close of business on January 8, 2016.

To further enable public input in the scope of the company's EIS, DEC is requiring the company to hold a public scoping session. A DEC Administrative Law Judge will preside over the scoping session on Wednesday December 9, 2015 at 6 p.m. at:

Best Western Hotel
515 South Transit Road
Lockport, New York 14094

Comments on the draft scope will be accepted at the scoping session and also in writing. The public can send written comments via e-mail, fax or regular mail to:

Lisa Czechowicz
Deputy Regional Permit Administrator
NYS DEC
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203
Fax - (716) 851-7168
DEP.R9@dec.ny.gov

Equal weight will be given to both verbal and written comments received.

The purpose of the scope essentially is to outline what environmental factors must be included in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the document that will eventually guide the review of the proposed modification.

The scoping process has six objectives, including to:

• Focus the DEIS on the potentially significant adverse environmental impacts;
• Identify the extent and quality of information needed;
• Identify the range of reasonable alternatives to be discussed;
• Provide an initial identification of mitigation measures;
• Provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the identification of impacts; and
• Eliminate non-significant and non-relevant issues.

DEC looks for comments that relate directly to the draft scope or items which may have been omitted from the draft scoping documents. The draft scope is available at the project sponsor's website at www.lockportquarry.com (link leaves DEC website.) It is also available for review locally at the following locations:

Department of Environmental Conservation
Buffalo Office
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203

Lockport Public Library
23 East Avenue
Lockport, New York 14094

Town of Lockport Town Hall
6560 Dysinger Road
Lockport, New York 14094