Legislation that would block the location of a rock quarry in Tanner will soon be introduced for a vote in Montgomery.

“We’ve sent ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) a letter asking them to postpone the permit,” said State Rep. Henry White, D-Athens. “That was two weeks ago and we haven’t heard anything back from them. We’re hoping they will not issue a permit until we have a chance to vote on the bills we’re introducing to stop the quarry.”

Rogers Group Inc. is seeking to relocate its Crosskey quarry in northwestern Limestone County to Laughmiller Road at Tanner. White and State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, are spearheading the effort to stop it by legislative acts.

“We’re doing all we can to stop it,” White said Saturday. “We’re trying to stay on top of it and we hope it’s enough” to keep it out of here.

Lawmakers are advertising the proposed bills to be introduced and voted on in February that would allow the Limestone County Commission to have authority over rock quarries.

The proposed bill states that a rock quarry cannot locate outside a municipality in Limestone County without commission approval. If approved in both the House and Senate, Gov. Bob Riley would also have to sign it.

The legislation was prompted by widespread opposition to the quarry at Tanner. Butler, White and other area legislators promised residents last month they would attempt to stop it.

The local legislative delegation’s five members are also asking for a public hearing on any requests for a rock quarry near the Tennessee Valley Authority megasite off U.S. 31 near Tanner.

In addition, the local legislators have started research on concerns about rock quarry blasting near nuclear power plants since the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is nearby.