Alabama rock quarry commits to changes, relief for community in settlement with SELC

BELLE MINA, Ala. — Four Belle Mina churches and community members, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), resolved their lawsuit against a controversial limestone quarry. The quarry landowners and operator, Grayson Carter & Son, Inc., agreed to permanent changes to the quarry site in order to meaningfully mitigate impacts on the surrounding community. Late yesterday, the parties filed a motion asking Limestone County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Huggins to approve and sign a Consent Order that specifies the quarry changes. Quarry operational changes include:

• Reducing daily operating hours and no longer conducting quarry operations at night or Sundays.
• Setbacks, or buffer zones, between quarry operations and homes and churches.
• Moving the quarry entrance north and away from homes and churches and installing turn lanes.
• Paving haul roads on the quarry to limit dust impacts on the community.
• Planting trees along the quarry boundary to buffer the community from the quarry.
• Residents near the site will receive a text or email notice before blasting.

In addition to operational changes, Grayson Carter and Son will compensate plaintiffs for the diminished value of their property and some elected to relocate away from the quarry.

“While we sought to stop the quarry, the judge concluded that the law required a middle ground. This is the best outcome for our clients and mitigates very serious long-term impacts on the community,” said Barry Brock, a senior attorney and director of SELC’s Alabama office. “As pro bono public advocacy attorneys, we know communities face a difficult legal burden when seeking injunctions to stop harm caused by extractive industries. Our clients devoted so much time and energy to this fight, including testifying to very personal stories about how the quarry changed their lives. This relief benefits them and everyone near the quarry.”

The Limestone County Circuit Court lawsuit was originally filed December 2024. In January 2026, after a two-day evidentiary hearing and an Order finding that the quarry was a nuisance and requiring it to make fundamental changes the quarry stopped operations until it met conditions imposed by the Limestone County Circuit Court, including moving a rock crusher and stopping some of the disruptive nighttime operations.

Two of the churches and a pastor involved in the lawsuit against the quarry were sued by one of the quarry entities, Elephants R Us, in a vindictive suit demanding more than $1.6 million in damages. An Indiana judge dismissed that case in November 2025.

“This lawsuit paved the way for us to continue advocating for better health and living conditions for the community,” said Cody Gilliam, Pastor of Belle Mina Methodist Church. “We are so thankful for the leadership of the SELC and their efforts to secure better living conditions for all of us at Belle Mina.”

“I’d like to thank all the other pastors and leaders in the community that came forth with their insight and support,” said Eddie Walton, Pastor of New Beginnings Covenant Ministries. “The end results were not what we set out for, but we feel that our sacrifices were not in vain because we did receive a lot of injunctions that will make it more bearable for the community to exist with the rock quarry.”

“While I am grateful meaningful changes are happening at the quarry site, leaving my home is the best decision for my long-term health,” said Nina Perez, a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Perez, who suffers from asthma, was already preparing to leave her Belle Mina home across from the quarry before the settlement. “This situation was never what any of us wanted, but we tried to make the best out of something difficult. While there is a lot to be grateful for in this settlement, it’s still outrageous that families had to go through a legal battle just to get action and accountability.”