Herriman residents oppose large mine next to their neighborhood

by · KSL.com

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

HERRIMAN — Homeowners are voicing their frustration over plans to approve a large rock mine next to their homes. To make matters worse, the company has already started mining there without a permit.

Hundreds of townhomes sit just uphill of the South Valley Rock Products quarry. Residents are just feet away from where the company is blasting, and they want it to stop.

Jeffrey Western represents a group of at least 60 Herriman homeowners who are all worried about South Valley Rock Products' plans to add a large gravel mine to the quarry.

"I can't afford to move somewhere else. I don't have that capability," Western said.

He said each blast brings a host of problems.

"It shakes the house; this whole house just vibrates when it blasts. We've seen mice like, a ton. I've caught 20 mice in the last month and a half," he said.

Some, but not all, in the neighborhood received a notice in September from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining stating the likely approval of the mine. Western and others quickly responded, and now the DOGM is holding a public meeting next month to hear their frustrations.

The letter that some residents at townhomes in Riverton received from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining about a new mine.Jeffery Western

"With the mine, I'm obviously expecting more blasting will be even worse," Western said.

On Monday, the DOGM told KSL-TV that South Valley Rock Products has already begun mining without a permit, which the company is working to get.

The DOGM will factor in comments from the upcoming meeting in its decision about issuing the permit. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Sky Ridge Townhome clubhouse at 4391 W. Sykes Lane in Herriman.

Photos

Jeffrey Western points to how close a new rock mine will be to townhomes in Herriman.Jackson Grimm, KSL-TV
A letter that some residents at townhomes in Herriman received from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining about a planned new mine nearby.Jeffery Western
Several townhomes in Herriman are just uphill of a quarry which wants to expand to include a large rock mine.Jackson Grimm, KSL-TV

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UtahSalt Lake County

Brian Carlson

Brian Carlson is a reporter for KSL-TV.