Email Updates:
If you would like to receive updates from Luck Stone regarding the progress of the Bull Run quarry expansion process, please provide your email address below
|
|
|
 |
Luck Stone General Questions
Bull Run Specific Questions
Expansion Related Questions
Luck Stone General Questions
I'd like to know a little more about the Luck Stone Corporation. Can you give me some more information about the company?
Luck Stone Corporation is one of the largest, private, family-owned and operated aggregate companies in the U.S. and is the 9th largest producer of crushed stone in the nation. Founded by Charles S. Luck, Jr. in 1923, the 84-year old Virginia company has thrived under the leadership of three generations of the Luck family. Luck Stone is headquartered in Richmond, Va., and operates four major businesses:
- Construction Aggregates
The Construction Aggregates Division operates 16 crushed stone plants in Virginia and North Carolina, 1 distribution yard and 1 sand and gravel operation with products including crushed stone, sand and gravel, topsoil and ball field mixes.
- Lee Tennis/HAR-TRU® Tennis Courts
Based in Charlottesville, VA, HAR-TRU® is the world's most popular type of clay tennis court, and Lee Tennis/HAR-TRU® is a leading supplier of court accessories.
- Luck Properties
Luck Properties is the real estate development arm of Luck Stone and includes a portfolio of three major business parks in Virginia.
- Charles Luck Stone Centers
Charles Luck Stone Center locations are places where anyone in the market for stone, whether an architect, interior designer, landscape designer, contractor or individual homeowner, can come for inspiration, exploration and discovery, and will experience an entirely new concept in the way stone is marketed, bought and sold. There are currently six stone centers. They are located in Richmond, Sterling, and Charlottesville, VA, Raleigh and Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, MD.
With more than 1,100 employees, the values-based company's mission is to provide innovative products and services that enhance the lives of its customers, associates and community.
Luck Stone representatives have said that Luck Stone strives to be a good neighbor to the communities within which it resides. What does that mean?
The answer to this question takes a few different shapes and varies for each location, but generally, we feel that the following demonstrates our commitment to being a good neighbor:
DONATIONS AND GRANTS
Luck Stone's community relations programs are supported through direct corporate donations of cash and in-kind materials, and through grants from the Luck Stone Foundation. The company has focused on three major areas of support: youth development and education; environmental stewardship, health and community safety; and local community development. Luck Stone also encourages its associates to become directly and personally involved in serving the communities within which it operates.
COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY AWARDS
Luck Stone is a recognized leader in our industry in the areas of corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship, and community relations. The company has received numerous awards that illustrate our commitment to the communities where we operate.
SPONSORSHIPS & EVENTS
Luck Stone is the proud sponsor of many community events and programs that support local non-profit organizations, including schools, environmental organizations, and community health and safety organizations. We also conduct hundreds of tours at our plants for community and school groups, host neighborhood gatherings and open houses, and participate in many community-sponsored events.
THE LUCK STONE FOUNDATION
Luck Stone Corporation is proud to support the communities where we operate by taking part in charitable community projects and programs. The Luck Stone Foundation was established to provide grants to non-profit organizations that contribute to building stronger communities, improving the quality of life for our neighbors, and providing needed services to our youth.
Bull Run Specific Questions
How has Luck Stone served as a good neighbor to the communities of which the Bull Run quarry is a part?
Luck Stone has been a good neighbor in a number of ways, including philanthropic giving of stone, money, and time (see below list), hosting neighborhood gatherings and open houses, and working to respond to any concerns and mitigate any impact of the quarry on close neighbors.
In the past three years, Luck Stone has supported, through financial and in-kind donations, as well as through volunteer effort of our associates, many organizations and events in communities of which Bull Run is a part, including the following:
Education
- Loudoun Education Foundation
- Loudoun County Public Schools
- Loudoun School Business Partnership
- Newspapers in Education
- Stone Ridge Elementary 5K Race for Education
- Belmont Station Elementary School
- Stone Bridge High School
- Stone Bridge Athletic Booster Club
- Heritage High School
- Briar Woods High School
- Park View High School
- Sanders Corner Elementary
- Harmony Preschool
- Battlefield High School
Community
- Loudoun County Volunteer and Rescue
- Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
- Loudoun Interfaith Relief
- Loudoun Literacy Council
- Loudoun Environmental Stewardship Alliance
- Battlefield Booster Club
- The Oatlands Plantation
- Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
- Loudoun Beef Club
- Blandy Experimental Farm
- Arcola Community Center
- Save the Trail
- Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
- Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department
- St. Judes Walk-A-Thon
- American Cancer Society
- Boy Scouts of America
- Adopt-A-Highway, Gum Spring Road
- Battlefield Equestrian Society
- Loudoun Interfaith Relief
- Red Cross Blood Drives
- “Garden of Hope” at the Cancer Center of Lake Manassas
- Sudley United Methodist Church
- Prince William Park Authority-Valley View Park
Youth
- Lower Loudoun Boys Football League
- Western Loudoun Travel Baseball
- Central Loudoun Basketball League
- Gainesville/Haymarket Youth Football
- Several local little league teams
How many jobs are created by this quarry?
A typical Luck Stone quarry can employ anywhere from 10 to 35 associates. The number of associates at Bull Run, once the expansion is completed, will depend upon a number of factors, including the market demand for stone and the resulting need for production.
How long will the quarry be here?
The life of a quarry is determined by many factors, including the amount of reserves in the ground, the market demand for stone, the production capability of the facility, as well as others. But the quarry will likely be in existence for decades to come.
Who can I call with questions or concerns?
Merle Goolsby, the Luck Stone Bull Run Plant Manager, may be contacted with any comments, question, concerns, or suggestions. He can be reached at (703) 233-1061 or mgoolsby@luckstone.com.
Expansion Related Questions
Why is Luck Stone expanding its excavation operations?
Northern Virginia is considered to be one of the fastest growing areas in the country. By planning for adequate future reserves, crushed stone will be available to more effectively and efficiently support the growing market demand in Loudoun County and the surrounding areas. Further, since the large majority of the stone produced will be used locally in Loudoun County, not only do customers and local governments save money on transportation costs, but less truck miles are required which saves fuel, reduces potential pollution, and reduces overall truck traffic.
What is the general timeline for the expansion project?
The expansion project encompasses a wide variety of activities, some of which will last into the coming decades. However, there are a few major pieces to the expansion that may be of more interest and may be more visible to the community. These estimated timelines are subject to change and depend on a number of factors.
- Relocation of Gum Spring Road will likely begin by the early summer of 2009.
- Construction of Overburden Area C will begin while the road is being relocated.
- Overburden Area B will be next, and will be constructed within 5 to 10 years.
- Overburden Area A will follow, and will be constructed in 7 to 20 years.
Luck Stone will communicate progress on the expansion project through this web site, regular neighborhood gatherings, and personal conversations.
Take a look at the Expansion Milestone page for more information on our progress or the Maps page for general maps of the existing site and the future site.
How will traffic be affected when expansion is complete?
In the Spring of 2004, Loudoun County granted approval to expand the Luck Stone Bull Run Quarry. By approving the expansion, Loudoun County ensured an available source of aggregate into its long-term future, one of the goals of the county's comprehensive land use plan.
In addition, when the county approved the expansion, it approved a relocation of Route 659 (Gum Spring Road). Luck Stone will work to mitigate any impact the construction has on those traveling on 659. The pavement, shoulders, and curves are designed to current VDOT and Loudoun County standards to accommodate future needs.
The expansion in itself does not create additional traffic. Market demands dictate the volume of stone produced and sold, and, in turn, the traffic generated. We are doing all the necessary planning to be in position to meet this demand as best we can. Luck Stone does anticipate increased volumes over the coming years, though we cannot guarantee that this will happen.
We will continue to communicate and work with the community to address any traffic changes that may result in the future.
In general, quarries, by virtue of the type of business they are in, can create some noise on site. What are methods that Luck Stone employs to mitigate any noise that may be created by the quarry?
There are a number of noise mitigation techniques that are currently being employed to mitigate noise at the site, and others that will occur as we engage in the expansion. They include the following:
- enclosing sections of our processing plant;
- utilizing strobe light backup systems at night time instead of the typical back-up alarms on most large equipment;
- use of high impact rubber to line haul trucks and chutes (when feasible);
- placing equipment (like the primary stone crusher) below surface level;
- constructing berms and planting of trees and vegetation; and
- properly maintaining the processing plant.
Loudoun County has a detailed noise ordinance, and we are committed to outperforming the applicable requirements.
What is overburden, and why do you have to keep it on site?
Overburden is the unconsolidated material (topsoil, clay, mud, etc.) that lies on top of the bedrock. It is removed to expose the stone underneath. In trying to think long-term and plan responsibly, and considering that state regulations require major portions of the quarry be graded, sloped and vegetated, Luck Stone tries to maximize our on-site storage of overburden to provide better opportunities for creative reclamation when the quarry is completed. However, there is a large amount of overburden in the expansion area, so we will also be working to remove some of the overburden off-site or use it creatively on-site. Overburden can be used on site to build earthen berms that provide visual as well as noise screens or to fill in low topographical areas of the property.
How tall will the overburden storage areas be?
There are three proposed areas for overburden storage on site (in addition to the berms or fill areas): areas A, B, and C (see map). In addition, we are continuously striving to be creative in identifying alternative options on and off site for overburden placement.
Currently, the maximum heights for storage areas B and C are 60 feet and 50 feet, respectively. The maximum height for storage area A is 120 feet. However, we have challenged our engineering and sales forces to find other placement options for a good portion of the material intended to go into storage area A. Thus, Luck Stone's goal for the height of overburden storage area A is 60 feet. We will keep the community updated on our progress of achieving this goal.
Luck Stone has engaged a landscape architect to assist in creating overburden storage areas that are aesthetically pleasing and that are intended to be seen as an asset to the community.
How will you control dust as you are creating the overburden storage areas?
We will utilize the best available dust control technology available. Wet suppression systems (e.g., water trucks and spray) will be used to suppress dust on roads and overburden storage areas as they are being constructed. Then, as quickly as possible, the storage areas and berms will be seeded and planted with vegetation.
Is the environment being affected by the expansion?
In the plan for the expanded quarry, approximately 350 acres will be utilized for excavation, processing, and other related activities. We understand the potential for this to affect habitat, local ecology, and open space, and we are committed to mitigating this impact.
Thus, Luck Stone is doing the following:
- placing 74.5 acres into conservation easements into perpetuity;
- creating 99 acres of vegetated berms;
- creating 5.3 acres of new wetlands;
- creating a 200 foot conservation easement along the length of the Bull Run stream that traverses our property, and a 100 foot conservation easement along other streams, the sum of which will create 13,957 linear feet of stream buffers;
- restoring a 2,250-foot off site section of Sycolin Creek near Leesburg;
- and creating open water habitat off site.
As part of these activities, we will be planting over 6,500 trees in addition to the 10,400 trees that we will plant on our berms and overburden storage areas.
Luck Stone will maintain wetlands and stream functions through the use of new and preserved wetlands, stream buffers, and other off-site mitigation as needed. Luck Stone is committed to maintaining water quality, and we adhere to all county erosion and sediment conditions and submit quarterly discharge reports to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Are wetland areas being affected by the expansion?
The proposed project will impact 4.75 acres of forested and emergent wetlands, but Luck Stone is creating 5.32 acres of new wetlands, and will preserve and enhance an additional 15.46 acres. On-site mitigation also includes the preservation of 13,957 linear feet of stream buffers.
Additional off-site activities include restoration of a 2250-foot section of Sycolin Creek near Leesburg, and creation of open water habitat.
Do you use dynamite in your blasting?
No. The mining industry abandoned the usage of dynamite over a century ago, and now conducts blasting by drilling and utilizing a very carefully and electronically controlled blast of ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate is classified as a blasting agent—not an explosive—and is much more stable and considerably safer than dynamite. Strict regulations state the amount of air blast and ground movement that is acceptable. A seismograph monitors the impact to the nearest residence during every blast event, and Luck Stone has never exceeded the regulatory limit during a blast at the Bull Run quarry.
Does the quarry or its expansion affect the presence of radon in my home?
Radon gas is a byproduct of the breakdown of naturally-occurring radioactive materials in the rock, such as radium or uranium. There is wide-spread variation among readings of ambient radon gas, ranging from 0 to over 3,000 pico-Curies per liter (pCi/l). A permissible exposure limit has not been established for air, although a limit of 300 pCi/l has been proposed for water. EPA’s recommended action level for air quality is 4 pCi/l. A study by the Virginia Department of Health, found that 12% of homes statewide had readings above the action level. In certain localities, the number of homes above the action level has exceeded 70%. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend that houses in potentially high areas should have an indoor radon analysis.
Treatment is recommended for readings above 4, and includes the installation of a fan and vent pipes.
Luck Stone cannot affect the presence of radon in the rock. Studies show that radon gas does not travel far in rock, and its presence in homes is likely due to the rock in their home’s immediate vicinity.
|
|
|
 |
