Alabama quarry developers sued in Circuit Court

BELLE MINA, Ala.– New Beginnings Covenant Ministries and Belle Mina Methodist Church, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), filed a lawsuit against Stoned LLC and Grayson Carter & Son, Inc. in Limestone County Circuit Court late yesterday for the harmful and unreasonable interference the construction and operation the companies’ limestone quarry and rock crushing facility will have on their quality of life.

The quarry threatens the historic Belle Mina community’s way of life. The boundary of the under construction 199-acre limestone quarry and rock crushing facility comes approximately 25 feet from residential properties, and three churches are located within half a mile of the quarry. Construction and operation of this quarry will interfere with residents’ daily lives by flooding their properties, impacting air quality, road degradation, and noise pollution. Residents are already enduring nuisances including sleepless nights from round the clock construction at the quarry.

“I am hopeful this lawsuit will bring attention to the value of our historic community,” said Eddie Walton, Pastor of New Beginnings Covenant Ministries. “We’re taking a stand against big business attempting to bully and bulldoze our historic community and landmarks.”

New Beginning’s parking lot already floods during heavy rains. The quarry’s inadequate wastewater management plan exposes Belle Mina properties, including New Beginning’s historic church building, to potentially destructive and dangerous flooding. Belle Mina Methodist had planned to start a cemetery for its members in the back of its property and to fix up its parsonage, but it has put those plans on hold because of fears of damage from the quarry, including flooding and vibrations. 

“It’s our primary responsibility to take care of the environment and one another,” said Cody Gilliam, Pastor of Belle Mina Methodist Church. “It is our hope that this lawsuit will accomplish both of these things through the grace of God.” 

Belle Mina Methodist Church has used Limestone Creek to baptize its members since the 1800s. The quarry threatens Belle Mina Methodist’s ability to continue this sacred and longstanding tradition. Wastewater from quarry operations will discharge pollutants into Limestone Creek and groundwater flow could be disrupted, likely effecting the creek’s water levels and species.

“These congregations have a right to defend their historic churches from harm,” said Sarah Stokes, a senior attorney in SELC’s Alabama office. “These developers chose to construct facilities feet from homes and houses of worship. Threats from flooding, air pollutants, traffic, and noise will impact their property and quality of life.”