Letter to the Editor: Proposals could increase Sharon Township’s mining acreage by 10x

December 14, 2021

To the Editor:

Proposals for new or expanded mining operations will increase the number of acres of aggregate mining in Sharon Township by tenfold

ON M-52:  

Aggregate Industries (a subsidiary of LaFargeHolcim) has applied to expand mining operations on both sides of M-52. In brief, the company is applying 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” (former Farmer’s Mine)

If you wish to learn more, attend a special meeting of the township’s Mineral Licensing Board: Monday, Dec.  20 6 pm Township Hall

ON PLEASANT LAKE RD:  

The township expects that Stoneco will submit additional information on the need for its proposed 400 acre mine in January, possibly in time to be reviewed at the January Planning Commission Meeting. Look for more information on this.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT:

Just these two applications represent a ten-fold increase in the number of acres mined. Today, about 50 acres of land in Sharon Township are dedicated to aggregate mining. The two applications currently under consideration, both by subsidiaries of large multi-national organizations, propose to increase the total mined acres to 500.

CONCERNED?

1) ATTEND TOWNSHIP MEETINGS. Put your concerns on the record.

2) TELL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN LANSING OR WASHTENAW COUNTY: we don’t need the state to remove local control over mining operations here (feel free to use any parts of the note below in your communication):

[Dear Senator Theis] or [Dear Representative Lasinski] or [Commissioner Beeman],

Current proposals to expand or begin aggregate mining in Sharon Township would increase the number of mined acres ten-fold. There is a very real possibility that would produce very serious consequences. It could impact our health, safety, environment, property values, and quality of life.

Please continue to fight against bills in the Michigan legislature that would enable the aggregate mining interests to roll over the rights of residents and townships in your district. This aggregate industry claims the state needs more gravel, but as you know, this is far from proven: The State of Michigan currently exports more gravel than any other state, which could indicate it has a surplus. Michigan is one of the few states that has not conducted a geological study to determine where the state’s aggregate resources exist. The mining industry has repeatedly stated Michigan will run out of gravel unless more mines are opened, yet it has repeatedly used a debunked and discredited report to do so.

And, in any case, no company should profit at the expense of a community’s health, safety, environment, quality of life, or property values, particularly large multi-nationals.

Our township has fair ordinances for aggregate mining, and our elected township officials can manage them — certainly better than the woefully understaffed EGLE agency.

In addition, the Sharon Preservation Society, an all-volunteer non-profit organization founded to inform Sharon Township residents about issues that impact our health, safety, welfare, or property values, is currently focused on the dramatic increase in aggregate mining in Sharon Township. Our website will be available soon to provide more detailed information, at http://sharonpreservationsociety.org/.

Barbara Schmid
Sharon Township

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.