The Murfreesboro Post

The state is giving Middle Point Landfill a permit to treat water from its rock-crushing operation despite opposition from area residents and an environmental group.

The Division of Water Resources - Mining Section, part of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, issued the permit this week after reviewing data and deciding it complies with state laws and regulations and "is protective of water quality."

Middle Point Landfill operators requested a National Pollution Discharge Elimination Services permit after running a quarry operation and crushing rock for several years without the proper permit.

People who spoke at a December hearing at Walter Hill School criticized the state, saying water quality issues shouldn't be considered separately from blasting. The Division of Water Resources - Mining Section does not oversee blasting, which is largely unregulated, though the state fire marshal is to be notified before it is done.

Residents and environmentalists also contended blasting is bound to affect a natural spring near the landfill site, as well as an unnamed tributary to the Stones River East Fork where treated water from the mining operation is to be discharged.

The state's decision says most of those concerns are unfounded. It states the permit protects downstream uses and should not cause "impairment" of the water for fish, irrigation, livestock watering or recreation, as well as for drinking water. Murfreesboro water intake is located downstream from the landfill.

The division said it is not aware of any water quality issues that would affect the permit being issued and found no problems during inspections.

Read the entire story by Sam Stockard in the Murfreesboro Post HERE.