Aggregate Industries 2022 Mine Expansion
Updated August 16, 2022 (for the most current information, please scroll to the bottom of the page)
Summary
- Fifty Two Minerals owns property near the intersection of M-52 and Pleasant Lake Road and has conducted surface aggregate mining on one parcel for years.
- In 2021, Fifty Two Minerals leased its properties to Aggregate Industries which has continued to operate the existing mine.
- Aggregate Industries attempted to purchase an adjoining parcel owned by Washtenaw County in 2020; the county declined to sell it.
- DEC 2021: Aggregate Industries applied to extend the operations at the existing site to mine beneath the water table on both sides of M-52.
- DEC 20, 2021: The township’s Mineral Licensing Board (MLB) determined the information in the application was incomplete. Read more here.
- MAR 7, 2022: The MLB set a schedule for reviewing the completed application during five meetings through early June.
- MAY 9, 2022: Sharon Preservation Society sent the MLB a list of issues it would like Aggregate Industries to address before the final MLB meeting on May 16, as well as a list of conditions it would like the MLB to consider applying to the license.
- MAY 16, 2022: At its fourth meeting to review the application, the MLB “conditionally disapproved” the application, which means the MLB will grant approval after the applicant satisfies the MLB’s concerns.
- JUNE 6, 2022: The MLB was satisfied with the updated information it received from the applicant and approved teh applicant’s license (see information below)
Who is Aggregate Industries?
- Aggregate Industries is a subsidiary of LaFarge-Holcim, based in Switzerland. LaFarge-Holcim claims to be the global leader in its business segment. 2019, its revenue was nearly $30 billion US dollars.
- Both Aggregate Industries and its parent company, LaFarge-Holcim, have incurred substantial penalties for violations of environmental regulation in the US, according to Violation Tracker, a database on corporate misconduct, produced by Good Job First, a research and policy resource center for constituency-based group, public officials and journalists.
- Since 2000, LaFarge-Holcim affiliates have amassed nearly $225 million in penalties for environmental violations.
- In a plant in Alpena, Michigan in February 2020, LaFarge-Holcim agreed to pay $170,000 in penalties and costs to settle allegations it failed to have dust collectors operating correctly, exceeded air emissions permit limits from one kiln, and failed to correctly monitor emissions.
What do we know about the mining plan?
In December, 2021, Aggregate Industries provided information with its application to:
- Mine below the water table in the “west pit” (current site, formerly operated by 52 Minerals).
- Mine below the water table in the “east pit” (formerly Farmers Sand and Gravel).
Since both parcels already have a special use permit for gravel extraction, they will only need to get licensed for the new mining activities. This is a function of the Sharon Township Mineral Licensing Board.
The documents filed by Aggregate Industries can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14DQfne4I-1tYrQdQqv1D2jc8ptgS_MCF
There are a number of attachments, some of which are more informative about the potential very serious consequences for township residents:
- Includes the mining site plan
- Shows an aerial view indicating property within 2,000 feet
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)’s air permit for the crusher
- The plan for the hydrogeological study
Sharon Preservation Society submitted the following comments and requests to the Mineral Licensing Board at its meeting on December 2021.
Comments on Air Quality Concerns
Comments on Water Quality Concerns
Comments on Traffic Safety and Reclamation Concerns
Summary of Requests to the Mineral Licensing Board
The updated application submitted by Aggregate Industries to the MLB on May 20, 2022