A unanimous roll call vote by the New Hanover Board of Supervisors to appeal the renewal of the Gibraltar Rock non-coal mining and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit (NPDES) met with applause from the crowd attending the supervisors' work session and regular meeting on Monday, July 23.

            Attorney Robert Brant, who is representing the township in quarry matters, noted that the township has been "vigorous in this case since 2001." He stated that in the executive session preceding the meeting, he had discussed with the supervisors how the state Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) would proceed in the event of an appeal.

            The application for the renewal of the permit has a nearly ten-year history that finally culminated in the granting of the renewal by the DEP this year. The concern of the township and residents is pollutants from adjacent contaminated sites, the Hoff VC Super-Fund site and the former Good Oil site, reaching the quarry and eventually the ground water and streams.

            The supervisors heard impassioned pleas from the audience to appeal the permit renewal. Attorney Chris Mullaney, representing the Paradise Watchdogs/Ban the Quarry group, stated, "What the quarry is about to do is unprecedented in the state of Pennsylvania."

            Supervisor Ross Snook, the environmental watchdog of the Board, said "If there is any pollution, it is my responsibility to not stop at any chance to prevent it."

            In other news, Brian Boyer of Boyer Engineering LLC represented the owners of 3101 Middle Creek in their request for a public sewer connection. Boyer said that an on-lot system is not possible, and that the property is, in part, in a flood plain.

            The supervisors asked that Boyer continue the discussion with the engineers at the township authority. They will be looking for a recommendation that there is absolutely no other viable option or an order from the DEP.

            In public works news, supervisor Dennis Flynn reported that his crew had finished oil and chip, the paving of Leidy Road and Hill Road, and would be working on Schultz Road next.

           In parks news, the supervisors authorized a budgeted capital expense to pave Swamp Creek Park's multi-use trail.