TANNER – Limestone County residents have two days to submit written comments on a proposal to build a rock quarry near here.

Rogers Group Inc. of Nashville has applied for two permits to open a rock quarry at 20445 Laughmiller Road – a water discharge permit and an air permit.

Officials with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will accept written comments on the proposal until 5 p.m. Thursday before deciding whether to issue the permits.

Comments should be sent to Russell A. Kelly, chief of Permits and Services Division, Alabama Department of Environmental Management,

P.O. Box 301463, 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, Ala., 36130-1463 or by calling (334) 271-7714.

To affect the final decision, comments must offer technically substantial information applicable to the proposed permits, according to ADEM.

After consideration of all written comments, review of the public hearing record, and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Air Pollution Control Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and applicable regulations, ADEM officials will make a final determination, which will be made public.

State conservation officials want the Rogers Group to prove its operation would not disrupt water flow to streams and groundwater in Swan Creek Management Area and Pryor Spring.

Changes in hydrology, experts say, could threaten the blue heron rookery near Pryor Branch, which is home to hundreds of nesting heron and egret. Also at risk is a nesting pair of bald eagles near Tanner, the pygmy sunfish, which is found in only four places in the world, and the North Alabama Birding Trail, a tourist attraction.

Rogers Group is seeking a water discharge permit – called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit – which would allow the company to discharge treated drainage from a crushed stone mine, wet preparation, and associated areas to an unnamed tributary to Swan Creek in the Tennessee River basin.

ADEM officials have tentatively determined that the actions proposed in the Rogers Group’s permit application are consistent with the water quality rules, including ADEM’s anti-degradation rules.

The company is also seeking an air permit to construct and operate a limestone crushing, screening and conveying operation. Emissions of particulate matter would be minimized by the use of wet suppression, according to their permit application.

ADEM officials have tentatively determined that the limitations proposed by the company would properly limit air emissions and would satisfy the requirements of the department’s air pollution control rules and regulations.

The local legislative delegation, led by state Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, has unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation in an attempt to stop the proposed quarry. They promise to continue those efforts.