The Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department will have until the end of the year to make a decision on a permit for a new quarry mine being planned for the Town of Gardner.  Franda Mine, LLC is planning on a 40-acre limestone quarry.  Door County Soil and Water Conservationist Greg Coulthurst, who is the regulatory authority for the county’s reclamation program, says a public hearing last week brought up many concerns and questions by neighboring landowners over the project.  He shares some of the issues that residents raised.

Coulthurst notes that the DNR is looking into endangered or threatened species in the area that would require more requirements for storm water coverage.  A decision must be made within 60 days of the public hearing.  Coulthurst adds that the permit can be denied, approved, or approved with conditions.  He says he needs to see conditions of financial assurance, which is coverage of the mine in case something goes wrong and it has to be reclaimed and storm water permit coverage based on the DNR findings.  The Town of Gardner will deal only with the potentiality of operational activities since it is not bound by county zoning regulations.