BELLE MINA, Ala. — Health concerns are driving a growing fight in the Belle Mina community to stop the development of a proposed rock quarry. Residents are determined to prevent the project, citing potential risks to the health and well-being of children and the elderly in the area.
"Studies have shown that children who grow up near quarries by the time they turn 18, have a smaller lung size than children who are not near quarries. The other population at risk is the elderly. There is a decreased life expectancy among the elderly who live near quarries," said Dr. Janice Thornton-Manning, a pulmonary toxicologist.
These health risks have prompted residents to fight “tooth and nail” to stop the quarry from being built. With construction plans moving forward and several previous attempts to halt the development having failed, Belle Mina residents gathered Thursday evening to discuss their next steps in the ongoing battle.
For residents like Delores Fletcher, a lifelong member of the community, the fight to stop the quarry is deeply personal.
“The area is just a small, neighborly community. Lots of love and support. People are very helpful. We look out for one another,” Fletcher said. “We’ve always acted as a community. We’ve certainly come together on this issue because we understand that this is our life.”
In an effort to block the project, the community filed a lawsuit last week on behalf of local families and businesses. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to halt construction of the quarry until further legal review.
“Last week we filed a lawsuit on behalf of my family's company and the whole community,” said Sam Frazier, a resident involved in the legal action. “There’s a hearing on the preliminary injunction, but most likely, the judge will hear the preliminary matter first. As soon as we did that, I decided to break ground and start what they’re calling the ‘building quarry.’”
Despite looming construction, the community’s resolve to fight remains unwavering. Another resident highlighted the importance of continuing the battle.
“It's very important to keep the fight going. It’s good to fight until the last drop,” the resident said. “We’re going to fight until we can't fight anymore — until the EPA or ADEM or somebody else tells us that we're out of the ballgame. So we're going to keep fighting. We’ll hit that home run, though, okay?”
The next step in the legal process will take place at a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for November 21 at 9 a.m. at the Limestone County Courthouse.
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