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Rock Hill Quarry

This page was last updated on December 8, 2022

The Rock Hill Quarry, owned by Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC, located in East Rockhill Township, Bucks County, has been active since it was first permitted in 1976. In 2017, R.E. Pierson was awarded a contract from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for turnpike construction projects and was the contract operator of the Rock Hill Quarry. In May 2020, Hanson and Pierson terminated their contract; Hanson will remain the owner/permittee, while Pierson will no longer operate at this site.

Information concerning applications, approval, and ongoing asbestos investigation associated with the quarry can be found below. Additional related documents may be found in DEP files maintained at the Pottsville District Mining or Southeast Regional Office. For more information on scheduling a file review, please visit DEP's Public Records page.

Site Facts

Municipality: East Rock Hill Township
Permitted Since: 1976
Owner: Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC
Permits Currently Issued:
1. Surface Mining Permit (requires modification)
2. NPDES Permit (renewed November 2018; under appeal here)

Commonly Used Terms

DEP, EPA, academia and industry use many complicated terms when discussing asbestos and the associated sampling and laboratory testing. The Commonly Used Terms document contains definitions of terms which have been used in the various documents relating to the Rock Hill Quarry posted on this site. Definitions selected in this guide were extracted from two federal resources.

Current Status

As of December 21, 2020, mining and related activities remain under a cessation order.

On December 5, 2018, DEP was notified of a positive asbestos test result from a sample of rock collected at the Quarry. DEP immediately ordered the cessation of all mining, rock crushing, sizing, and other related activities. The cessation will remain in effect until rescinded, in writing, by DEP. More information regarding the asbestos investigation can be found below. The cessation refers to quarrying activities; some activities, such as sampling, monitoring, and inspections may still be observable.

At this time, the long-term future of the Rock Hill Quarry is still undetermined. DEP must work with the property owner to assess potential future options for the site, while continuing to investigate and assess the presence of Naturally Occurring Asbestos.

As DEP works with the current owner/permittee to collect additional necessary data, the department is continuing to evaluate all available information and resources, including that which has been shared by stakeholders, sister agencies, and the community. The health and safety of residents, employees, and the environment remains a top priority and DEP is committed to continued transparency as the future of the site is evaluated.

Community Updates

To subscribe to updates, please send an email to RA-EPMining@pa.gov

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Non-Coal Surface Mining

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Non-Coal Surface Mining – Naturally Occurring Asbestos Investigation

Summary

The Rock Hill Quarry is large noncoal surface mine. The mineral actinolite, which can sometimes contain asbestos fibers has been found at the site. The Department has therefore required testing and investigations to determine if actual asbestos fibers are present within the rock being mined and in future mining areas. The initial and subsequent investigation and sampling did not identify asbestos. However, in December 2018, a rock sample tested positive for asbestos fibers. The Department, upon notice of the positive sample analysis, ceased all mining and crushing activities at the site, and they remain ceased at this time. The Department also required additional testing, sampling and investigation be undertaken at the site; and a plan outlining that proposed work will be submitted to the Department.

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Timeline

On December 8, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC, responding to their December 7, 2022 request to hold the annual minimum tonnage removal requirement. DEP will evaluate the requirement to remove a minimum of 500 tons of minerals in the preceding calendar year in order to be considered an active operation.

On December 8, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, responding to their November 4, 2022 test results of the October 11, 2022 limited activity based sampling events 2 & 5. DEP is approving Hanson to proceed with the activity-based sampling event 3: Stockpile Movement and to apply certain conditions.

On December 7, 2022, DEP received a letter from Hanson Aggregate Pennsylvania, LLC, requesting DEP to continue to hold in abeyance the annual minimum tonnage removal requirement for active mine operations due to DEP’s December 5, 2018 order.

On November 4, 2022, DEP received a letter from Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, of the results of the October 11, 2022 limited activity based sampling events 2 & 5, in accordance with DEP’s February 28, 2022 approval letter, as well as the conditions outlined in DEP’s September 1, 2022 letter.

On November 3, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Congressman Fitzgerald responding to his October 12, 2022 letter regarding the security and safety at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On October 24, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance responding to their September 28, 2022 letter regarding security and safety concerns stemming from a fire by unauthorized trespasser at the Rock Hill Quarry in August 2022.

On October 12, 2022, DEP received a letter from Congressman Fitzpatrick expressing safety and security concerns from illegal activity on site and requested additional measures.

On September 28, 2022, DEP received a letter from the Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance expressing security and safety concerns stemming from a recent fire on site.

On September 23, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Representative Craig Staats responding to his August 24, 2022 letter regarding the testing procedures being conducted for asbestos at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On September 14, 2022, DEP sent a letter to the Bucks County Commissioners acknowledging their August 25, 2022 comments regarding Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC’s activity based sampling plan at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On September 1, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, with additional conditions for the Limited Activity Sampling requirements at the Rock Hill Quarry Site.

On August 29, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Senator Steve Santarsiero responding to his August 12, 2022 letter regarding the Activity-Based Sampling Plan and the testing procedures used during each step in the plan at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On August 25, 2022, DEP received a letter from Bucks County Commissioners expressing their concerns regarding the testing procedures being conducted by Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On August 24, 2022, DEP received a letter from Representative Craig Staats expressing concerns regarding the testing procedures being conducted for asbestos at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On August 19, 2022, DEP received a response letter from Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, responding to the July 20, 2022 letter from Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance’s and the July 28, 2022 letter from East Rockhill Township regarding Hanson’s activity-based sampling events at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On August 12, 2022, DEP received a letter from Senator Steve Santarsiero expressing concerns about the testing procedures being conducted by Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On August 9, 2022, DEP received a status update letter from Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, for the revised limited activity events sampling plan the Rock Hill Quarry Site.

On July 28, 2022, DEP received comments from East Rockhill Township regarding the June 24, 2022 results of sampling which Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC provided to DEP.

On July 20, 2022, DEP received a letter from the Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance regarding the June 1, 2022 sampling results and additional authorized sampling events.

On July 13, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, acknowledging receipt of their June 1, 2022 activity based sampling and the sample analysis showing a non-detect at each of the eight sampling stations.

On June 24, 2022, DEP received the results from Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC’s first activity based sampling, conducted on June 1, 2022 in accordance with DEP’s February 28, 2022 letter.

On April 8, 2022, DEP received a letter from Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, responding to the March 31, 2022 request for a status update on the installation of a weather station and a forecasted start time for the activity based air sampling at the Rock Hill Quarry.

On March 31, 2022, DEP sent a letter to Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania, LLC, requesting the status update of the revised limited activity events sampling plan at the Rock Hill Quarry Site. The original request was sent on February 28, 2022.

On February 28, 2022, DEP sent an letter to Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC’s, regarding their February 1, 2022, revised limited activity events sampling plan. Approval is for Numbers - 1, 2, 3, and 5. Number 4 is not approved and will be determined after the results of the other limited activity events have been reviewed and evaluated by DEP.

On February 21, 2022, DEP received a response letter from Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC, regarding the December 6, 2021 and December 27, 2021 comment letters that were submitted by the Rockhill Environmental Preservation Alliance, Inc.

On February 1, 2022, DEP received a revised limited activity events sampling plan from Hanson Aggregates PA, LLC, that will replace Attachment B in their December 6, 2021 response to DEP’s Elevated Review technical deficiently letter dated October 21, 2021.

On January 28, 2022, DEP sent an acknowledgement letter to Senator Steve Santarsiero regarding his December 21, 2021 concerns regarding the permit review process at the Rockhill Quarry.

On January 14, 2022, DEP received a letter from Fox Rothschild, LLP, in response to Senator Santarsiero’s letter dated December 21, 2021, with his concerns about the delays in the permit application process between DEP and Hanson Aggregate PA, LLC, related to the Rockhill Quarry.

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Non-Coal Surface Mining - Inspection Reports

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Non-Coal Surface Mining – NPDES

On January 26, 2018, DEP received 4th Quarter 2017 NPDES Discharge Monitoring Reports from Hanson Aggregates PA.

Air Quality

There are no active Air Quality permits issued for this site. All historical information has been archived below. Recent inspection reports are below.

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