Don’t Leave Residents in the Dust

 

The Holcim (formerly Lafarge) Fox River Stone Quarry on Route 31 in South Elgin began as a small operation in 1934. Over the past two decades, it has expanded significantly, producing limestone for infrastructure and Ozinga cement. During her campaign last year, Linda Robertson heard residents' concerns about fugitive dust contaminating their homes, forcing outdoor gatherings indoors, health risks, the cost of cleaning and repairs, and the lack of results from their activism. They sought government assistance but were unsure how to make their voices heard.

 

The WCLC Environmental Committee stepped in to help residents connect with the appropriate officials. Since October 2024, we have met with residents who shared their long-standing efforts to urge the quarry and local government to control dust and noise. They detailed the impact of dust on their health and property, the noise of the blasting at night, and the pollution caused by the idling trucks as well as trucks leaving the property without tarping. Despite their efforts, they struggled to be heard, as the Village of South Elgin stated it had "no authority to require Holcim to reduce or alter its operations or install equipment to reduce dust from the site."

 

The community recognized the quarry dust as a significant issue. They did not seek to shut down Holcim but wanted the quarry to comply with regulatory requirements, including controlling fugitive dust to prevent it from leaving the property. They also wanted elected representatives to advocate for resident safety and tangible results.

 

The Environmental Committee encouraged residents to document the personal impact of fugitive dust and submit this information to the Illinois EPA, aiding the Attorney General’s office in a formal hearing scheduled for April 25th. The community maintains an excellent website, www.thequarrystory.com, and we helped establish a newsletter/email system to raise awareness and motivate residents to file official pollution complaints and submit photos to the IEPA.

 

We will continue to monitor the case hearing and efforts to ensure the quarry and truckers become responsible neighbors by controlling dust and noise.

 

For more information about the Environmental Committee send a message via: Contact Us | We Can Lead Change