State land panel to reconvene Feb. 7 to consider quarry permit hearings

Following a closed-session conference call Friday afternoon, the Missouri Land Reclamation Commission still hasn't decided whether to grant a request for formal hearings on two Fruitland-area mine applications.

The commission will reconvene in closed session Feb. 7 in Jefferson City, Mo., to continue its discussion of information presented by mine applicants Heartland Materials and Strack Excavating and those opposed to the quarries during its meeting Thursday.

For formal hearings to be granted, opponents must provide good-faith evidence on how health, safety or livelihood will be affected by the issuance of a permit.

If a hearing is not granted, the commission will continue its process of considering the permits.

Heartland Materials is seeking approval for a 161-acre limestone quarry off County Road 601, south of Saxony Lutheran High School. Strack Excavating is seeking approval for a 76-acre limestone quarry to the north of the school.

Staff from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources have recommended approval of both mine permits.

During a recent public comment period, residents and students opposed to the developments flooded the Missouri Department of Natural Resources with more than 5,000 letters and requests for a formal hearing.

A formal hearing would mean more in-depth testimony before an independent hearing officer appointed by the state's Administrative Hearing Commission. That officer would then make a recommendation to the Land Reclamation Commission on whether to approve the permits.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

County Road 601, Cape Girardeau, MO