Misty Hill Mining Application Moves Forward
By Thaddeus Flint
A July 23 public hearing on a proposed sand and gravel mine in Stephentown found that largely nobody had any real issues with having a proposed sand and gravel mine in Stephentown.
The application by Misty Valley Farm LLC to operate a mine on 13 acres off State Route 22, just west of where Valley View Road (labeled as Madden Road at the northern entrance on some maps) intersects, is before the Town’s Planning Board because the location would require a Special Use Permit as well as Site Plan Review.
The applicant’s attorney stated that the intentions were to operate the mine as a means of removing inclines and hillsides that currently prevent that location from being used as agricultural land. Owner Dave Lobdell said that the intention is to one day use that piece of land as a field and that the current layout would prohibit getting bailers and other farm equipment in there.
NYSDEC, which is lead agency on this application, recently determined that the current project before them would have no significant impacts on the local environment, and “will not disturb wetlands or water resources, flood plains, significant habitats, archeological or historic resources, or coastal areas.” A DEC Public Notice published in The Record on July 26 also states that once the mining–which will be a “traditional surface extraction of sand and gravel”–is completed, the final reclamation “will include the replacement of stockpiled subsoil and topsoil, and will create a stabilized, revegetated field appropriate for agricultural use.” Misty Valley expects the mine to operate from five to ten years, although fifteen years was not ruled out.
The only real comments came from resident Bryan Cytryn, who, while not being against Misty Valley’s desire to reshape their land so it could be better farmed, was more concerned with traffic and the possibility of the mine being sold to less-friendly owners. Cytryn said that the mine ending up someday in the hands of Troy Sand & Gravel, or other such operations, was “his biggest concern.” Granting a special use permit for this mine might have repercussions farther down the road. “It’s a right to farm community,” said Cytryn, “not a right to mine community.” Lobdell responded that he saw no other way of transforming the land and that there was no intention of ever selling out to a larger outfit. “I don’t see that land ever leaving the family,” said Lobdell.
Cytryn also noted that an increase in truck traffic might be a detriment to those driving and living along Route 22. While Misty Valley’s attorney, and the NYSDOT, were of the belief that any increase in truck traffic would be “insignificant,” not everyone has complete faith in what attorneys and NYSDOT believe, or say. NYSDOT says there would be a 1% increase in traffic to Route 22 which would work out to be just over 20 trucks a day. The mine, however, is not proposed to operate every day, 365 days a year. And while on-site processing of the mined earth will take place, DEC says the noise from that (and the dust) won’t be enough to impact anyone nearby. “It’s the middle of nowhere,” said Lobdell.
Local miner, Billy Hammersmith, pointed out that the Lobdells were a family to be trusted, and because they were local, all a resident would have to do if there was a problem was “go and knock on Dave’s door” to get it fixed. “His word is good-as-gold,” added another resident.
The Planning Board voted unanimously to close the public hearing and the matter is expected to continue apace at the September meeting. In the meantime, anyone interested in expressing their own comments to NYSDEC can do so until August 24, by contacting Kate Kornak at NYSDEC Region 4 Division of Permits, 1130 N Westcott Rd Schenectady, NY 12306. 518-357-2459 or at DEP.R4@dec.ny.gov .