A Penfield company was fined $135,000 after a quarry blast launched rocks into a nearby park last year.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday, April 20, announced the order on consent with Dolomite Products Company Inc. in Penfield, following an errant blast at its Penfield quarry on Sept. 15.
The blast
The blast occurred around 10 a.m. Sept. 15. A third-party contractor conducted what was described as a “standard quarry blast operation” at the site on Whalen Road, according to town officials. During the blast, nearly two dozen rocks were ejected beyond the work site and landed on the nearby Shadow Pines property. No injuries were reported, though people were utilizing the park at the time of the blast.
According to the DEC, the blast caused 22 rocks to launch from the quarry to the park, including one 40-pound rock that came to rest 1,345 feet from the blast site.
Reports say that large rocks landed near the pickleball courts and playground at the corner of Whalen Road and Atlantic Avenue. A vehicle was also damaged.
At the time, Penfield’s town supervisor Jeff Leenhouts called for accountability and transparency, saying residents need confidence that public spaces, including parks, are safe.
DEC issues penalty
As a result of the investigation and order, the Penfield- based company was required to pay a $135,000 penalty, with $105,000 immediately payable to the DEC and the remaining $30,000 suspended, conditioned upon Dolomite’s adhering to a Schedule of Compliance in the Order, DEC officials said in a news release.
As part of the order, Dolomite is required to update the blasting plans at each of its eight DEC-permitted quarries to include safety protocols to minimize the potential for future fly-rock incident, according to the DEC.
“DEC took immediate action to hold Dolomite accountable for its unacceptable failures in last September’s blast at its quarry that impacted a nearby recreational area – including a children’s playground – in clear violation of its mining permit,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a news release. “Incidents like this have the potential for deadly consequences and DEC will ensure regulated facilities face consequences when they fail to comply with New York State’s strict rules and regulations in place to protect communities and the environment.”
The Dolomite Group
The Dolomite Group, which owns and operates the quarry, last year confirmed the incident occurred during a “routine and scheduled blast.”
The Dolomite Group supplies crushed stone, sand, gravel, asphalt, and concrete and also provides construction services. It primarily operates in the Rochester region.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Penfield quarry fined after blast sent rocks to park
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
