Tilcon to spend $40M to muffle quarry noise

Tilcon to spend $40M to muffle quarry noise
By BRYAN F. YURCAN

Keeping things quiet can get expensive.

Tilcon New York Inc. has pledged $40 million to mitigate noise and pollution concerns at its West Nyack Quarry raised by the town of Clarkstown government and some of its residents.

The agreement between the town and Tilcon was announced during a press conference Feb. 9.

The joint agreement stemmed from some residents’ complaints that Tilcon had cleared several trees off its property near the quarry, thus reducing the natural barrier to the noise. The company had legal license to do so, said John Cooney Jr., president of Tilcon New York.

The tree cutting led to a Sept. 13, 2006, public hearing at which residents and Tilcon employees spoke before the town government and representatives of the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which oversees quarries in New York state.

The DEC renewed Tilcon’s permit on Sept. 25, but said it would keep the application open, to take into account public comments.

Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack said during that time the town decided “to take a more proactive approach” in its relationship with Tilcon, which has operated the quarry since the 1940s. He said the town decided to engage with Tilcon directly to address some of the residents’ concerns.

A satisfactory arrangement

“We are pleased with the plan,” Gromack said. “It is done out of partnership, friendship and the spirit of cooperation.”

According to Cooney, Tilcon’s plan calls for several initiatives, including:

• Constructing an entrance and exit road on the south side of the quarry. The road will allow trucks to enter and exit the quarry directly opposite the traffic light at the foot of the Route 303 exit ramp from westbound Interstate 87. The new entry road would eliminate nearly all Tilcon traffic that arrives via Snake Hill Road.

• Creating an 800-foot-long earthen berm, which will screen the quarry from passing cars and be an aesthetic improvement.

• A number of short- and long-term noise reduction measures, including relocating the primary and secondary crushing operations to 70 feet below ground level within two years.

• Upgrades to the entire dust control system.

Tilcon will also renovate the Storms Tavern house near the quarry. The house, which Tilcon owns, dates to the early 19th century. The company originally planned to demolish it, but changed course after an outcry from some residents to save it.

The company will also pay for tests to be conducted twice annually to measure noise, dust and water quality levels.

“It’s a transparent way for the public to see how we’ve reduced the impact,” Cooney said.

Gromack said the town was pleased with the proposed changes enacted by Tilcon.

“These are not minor, cosmetic changes; they are substantive improvements,” he said.

Tilcon is an integrated materials company that operates quarries, asphalt plants, recycling plants, water terminals and a heavy highway construction division. The company produces crushed stone, asphalt, sand, gravel and recycled materials.

Tilcon employs about 300 people in Rockland County, with approximately 100 at the West Nyack facility.

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