The Rockwood Quarry, located a short distance from downtown Rockwood and only feet from the Great Allegheny Passage Trail (pictured above), has applied to expand.
Per the PA Bulletin, it is seeking Commencement, operation and restoration of a large noncoal (industrial minerals) operation affecting 175.0 acres. That’s an expansion of roughly 170 acres!
MWA is urging the community to submit public comments on this permit application.
Written comments are due on May 12th!
You can send written comments to the District Mining by email to:
Cambria District Mining Office (RA-EPCAMBRIADMO@pa.gov)
David Thomas, District Mining Manager (davidt@pa.gov)
Michael Schirato, P.G., Permit Reviewer (mischirato@pa.gov)
Comments should reference the application at hand (#56250301)
What does a comment need to include? Written comments must include a statement of interest and a summary of concerns/impacts.
- What is a statement of interest? How you are impacted should the permit be approved. If you have technical experience, it is helpful to mention relevant professional/education experience in your statement of interest, and how it relates to your concerns shared in the comment.
- Examples:
- I regularly use the nearby bike trail adjacent to the quarry site for recreation and exercise.
- My family and I frequently kayak in the Casselman River and are concerned about the quarry’s impact on water quality.
- I live in Rockwood, in [insert proximity] to the quarry, and have concerns about the drinking water supply.
- I am a regular visitor to the GAP trail and am concerned that the trail’s future use will be affected, given the quarry’s proximity to the trail.
- Tip: Discuss how the permit’s approval would affect your future use of the area.
- Examples:
- What kind of concerns should I mention?
- Observations about the quarry’s operations in the area, such as:
- Dust, noise, increased truck traffic, reduced air quality, scenic damage, and negative impacts on tourism and recreation
- The operator has already received a violation resulting in a cessation order in April of 2025
- Lack of information in the permit application materials
- Observations about the quarry’s operations in the area, such as:
If it resonates with your experience, you may end your letter with a request along these lines: “based on all this, the DEP should reject the application.”
Thanks for taking the time to use your voice on this important matter! Public comments are a powerful tool in standing up to polluters, and a unified community voice can make an impact on decision making!