Gibraltar Rock’s 24-year effort to open a quarry in New Hanover Township has suffered another legal setback. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order refusing Gibraltar’s request to appeal a decision that rescinded the company’s mining permit. Stephen Harris, attorney for Gibraltar, said the refusal of the Supreme Court to hear the appeal “was not a surprise,” and said the company will continue its efforts to build the quarry. Gibraltar Rock must now begin the process of obtaining a mining permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the company can still rely upon the preliminary site plan approval it received from the township in 2015, Harris said. The task will be difficult given the fact that groundwater contamination has been uncovered adjacent to the proposed mining pit. The township and advocacy group Paradise Watchdogs joined together to legally challenge the project. “This outcome reaffirms the diligent efforts of our community and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to protect our local environment and uphold the rule of law,” said New Hanover Township Manager Jamie Gwynn.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 1/10/2025