North Aurora rejects mine expansion

North Aurora denied a request to allow mining, including blasting, 250 feet below a 30-inch high-pressure natural gas line.

Trustees voted unanimously Monday night not to annex a ComEd right of way on the north and east edges of the LaFarge Conco North mine on Route 25. A 30-inch pipe owned by Nicor is buried about 6 feet deep in the right of way.

LaFarge Conco wanted to mine 250 feet below the surface. It wanted dolomite, saying the material is becoming the preferred material in the Chicago market for road construction.

However, residents of the Chesterfield subdivision to the northeast protested.

They were worried about vibrations from blasting damaging the pipeline, causing it to leak and explode.

Residents also said they already feel house-rattling vibrations from the mine and worry that expanding the mining would damage their houses. However, the mining would not have been any closer to their houses than current mining.

They also complained about dust from the current mining operation. Acknowledging they knew there was a mine nearby when they bought their properties, they said vibrations and dust have increased in the five years since LaFarge bought the mine.

“When this dolomite is over, where will LaFarge seek to expand next?” asked Nick Nelson, the Chesterfield Homeowners Association lawyer. He said residents suspect LaFarge wants to buy the Geneva Construction Co. asphalt plant and mine under it. Village attorney Kevin Drendel said, however, that LaFarge would have to apply for a special-use permit to do that. Such permits are scrutinized by the village on such considerations as the effect on neighboring properties.

“I think we saw that day coming when we got rid of that 65-foot setback. In 2.5 years they have gone through that 65-foot setback and now we are hearing complaints about the vibrations,” Trustee Vince Mancini said. The mine was formerly prohibited from mining within 65 feet of its property line, but the village removed that restriction so LaFarge could access dolomite.

Nicor was fine with the mining, as long as LaFarge installed seismographic meters directly over blast sites and indemnified it from any damage caused by the mining.