Potential quarry vibrations will be studied for STAMP

Genesee EDC hiring expert to look at issue

BATAVIA – A firm from California has been hired to review vibration studies that will be prepared on behalf of Frontier Stone, a company that wants to open a new quarry on Fletcher Chapel Road in the town of Shelby.

That proposed quarry would be about 5 miles from the STAMP site in the town of Alabama. Genesee County and economic development officials from the region and state see the proposed 1,250-acre park as a hub for nanotechnology. The Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park has the potential to employ up to 10,000 in businesses that produce micro-chips, flat screen televisions, electronic circuits and other very small mechanical devices.

But the Genesee County Economic Development Center wants to make sure a proposed quarry doesn’t disturb the ground too much to make the STAMP site unattractive for developers.

The GCEDC board last week hired Colin Gordon Associates of California to analyze a vibration study that will be commissioned by Frontier Stone, The Daily News of Batavia is reporting. (For more information, visit thedailynewsonline.com and search for “GCEDC to review mining project near STAMP site.”)

The Genesee agency will pay Colin Gordon $15,000 to review Frontier Stone’s documents. Frontier submitted a vibration assessment in its environmental impact statement for the quarry, but GCEDC says that report didn’t go far enough. The agency will have its consultant work with Frontier’s expert in the preparation of the study, and then will analyze the results when the study is complete, said Rachael Tabelski, GCEDC spokeswoman.

One of the STAMP site’s draws is its location in a remote, rural area. The project is planned to go by a swamp, which is quiet. Ground vibrations can compromise the manufacturing at such a small scale, GCEDC President Steve Hyde has said.

Frontier wants to operate a 215-acre quarry. GCEDC officials have said that project wouldn’t necessarily be a problem for STAMP, but they want another study to make sure the two can co-exist.

The proposed STAMP is projected to attract $20 billion in investment, employ 10,000 on site and have a spinoff impact of another 50,000 jobs in the region. Companies could manufacture semiconductor 450mm chip fab, flat panel display, solar, and other advanced manufacturing.

Frontier Stone LLC wants to develop and operate a dolomite/limestone quarry. If the company can satisfy the DEC’s standards with a final environmental impact statement, Frontier will then need a permit from the town of Shelby for the project.

David J. Mahar, president of Frontier, has been working on the quarry project the past eight years. He has projected 15 jobs at the site.