Aerial view of the Cobleskill Stone Products Schoharie Quarry. The red circle is the location of the proposed additional mining, which would extend to the road next to the water tower (the white dot). The green arrows show the water tower and pipes from the reservoir to the tower and from the tower to the village. The large complex on the left side of Eastern Avenue is the school.
ACTION ALERT!
Date: February 4, 2025
Cobleskill Stone Products' New Application Threatens Schoharie's Water Supply
Cobleskill Stone Products is applying for a mining permit modification which could threaten the Village of Schoharie’s water supply. Please send comments to DEC by FEBRUARY 26th!
In December of 2024, CSP submitted a permit renewal application to DEC for their mining operation in the Schoharie Quarry. In this application, they requested a modification to allow them to excavate additional reserves in the northwest corner of the existing quarry. This would include blasting within 100 feet of the Village of Schoharie’s new water tank.
Blasting could damage the integrity of the water tank, as well as the piping system that carries water from the reservoir on Barton Hill to the village. If water and sewer operations are disrupted, it would affect Schoharie Central School, the County Office Building, County Highway Department, the Fire Department, and every business, home, and fire hydrant in the village. It would take a great deal of time and money to fix or replace the water system if it is damaged. The Village recently spent 2.5 million dollars to build the new water tank and replace all the necessary piping from the reservoir, but the piping from the tank to the village is between 85 and 120 years old.
Our only chance to influence this proposed modification by CSP is through public comment, and we only have until FEBRUARY 26th to send comments.
What You Can Do:
Town or Village of Schoharie residents and businesses: Ask DEC to protect Schoharie's water supply! Call or email your comments by FEBRUARY 8th to Maranda Welch:
E-mail: Maranda.welch@dec.ny.gov
Phone: 518-357-2446
Maranda Welch
NYSDEC
1130 N. Westcott Road
Schenectady, New York 12306
The goal of Save Our Schoharie ( SOS) is to preserve the historic integrity of our town by upholding land use laws & preventing expansion of the CSP mine.
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The quarry looms above Schoharie Central School.
Town of Schoharie with proposed mine expansion outlined in yellow. The red line is the re-routed Rickard Hill Road.
Proposed Mine Expansion
In 2005, Cobleskill Stone Products applied to the NY State Department of Conservation (DEC) to expand their Schoharie quarry onto a large parcel of farmland and forest just outside the eastern border of the Village of Schoharie. The proposed expansion would stretch from Rickard Hill Road to Warner Hill Road, next to Lasell Park, homes, the school, and senior citizens' apartments. It would bring the mining operation closer to many homes and historic buildings. Save Our Schoharie was formed in response to concerns about how the expansion would affect our community.
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After reviewing data, legal statements, and testimony from the Town of Schoharie, SOS, local residents, and technical experts, DEC Region 4 recommended that CSP's expansion permit be denied. CSP appealed the decision, and the matter is being reviewed by DEC officials at the state level.
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CSP also brought an Article 78 lawsuit against the Town of Schoharie, eventually overturning the 2005 Land Use Law on a technicality. A new Land Use Law was adopted by the Town of Schoharie in 2015, and CSP is currently suing over that LUL as well.
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For more detailed information, please click on the "About" tab, or check out our newsletter archive.
Permit Renewal for Current Mine Operation
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CSP has been operating its existing facility without a permit since 2010, as the DEC permit renewal process has not been completed. It's important for DEC to have information about any problems with CSP's current operations, and any concerns which should be addressed in the terms of the new permit.
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If you have any complaints about the operation of the CSP Schoharie quarry, complaints can be sent to one (or all) of the following individuals at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 4.
Mary Barrie - Regional Enforcement Coordinator
Jami R. June - Mined Land Reclamation Specialist (evaluates blasts at CSP)
Nancy Baker
Regional Permit Administrator, Division of Environmental Permits
P: (518) 357-2452 | F: (518) 357-2460 | nancy.baker@dec.ny.gov
The mailing address for Mr. June and Ms. Baker is:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
1130 North Westcott Rd, Schenectady, NY 12306
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When you make a complaint, try to provide detailed information, such as:
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How far you are from the mine.
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How loud, dusty, etc. the impact was.
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What time of day it was.
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Photos and video, if possible.
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Please send a copy of your complaint to SOS for our records.
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Note that according to CSP's permit, no visible dust is to leave the CSP property. According to DEC policy, noise should not "intrude" into the community (e.g be noticeable to the point of being irritating), and at no time should it interfere with with normal speech. Blasting vibrations are supposed to be limited to a level which does not cause damage to property. According to state law, all trucks carrying a load are supposed to be covered.
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It is no longer necessary to use the DEC Nuisance Log form.