Residents urge denial of SRM quarry extension, cite polluted Driver's Branch and enforcement failures

Multiple residents urged the Division of Mineral and Geologic Resources to deny SRM's requested permit extension, saying quarry operations have polluted Driver's Branch and harmed wells, livestock and wildlife.

Lucas Antoniak, who identified himself and said he lives about 0.5 mile from the quarry, presented visual evidence and asked regulators to reject the application. "Please deny this extension, deny the hunger water movement, and protect our home for generations to come," Antoniak said. Another resident said, "we see a failure of TDEC to enforce their charter," expressing distrust of the agency's enforcement record.

Speakers described Driver's Branch as classified by the state as an exceptional water and warned that springs serving nearby properties have stopped flowing after quarrying. Several commenters said SRM has a history of out-of-permit operations and violations; one speaker said the company was cited in February for operating outside its permitted area.

The hearing record shows no agency decision at the meeting; staff closed the public comment period and set a deadline for written comments. The Division invited written comments and said it will review all submissions before making a permit decision.

Discussion vs. decision: Commenters raised substantive allegations and requested denial or revocation; the agency recorded comments and set a written-comment deadline but did not issue a decision at the hearing.