Winter Brothers are requesting rezoning by City of Eureka and are petitioning for a special use permit to mine sand and gravel in the Meramec valley for the next 50-70 Yrs. Below are a few of the issues raised by proposed open pit mining in Eureka, as compiled by Sharee Foerster. Sharee can be reached at shareefoerster@gmail.com.

 

*Loss of habitat, timbers, and effects on Meramec River estimated 9 wetland areas and 7 streams on this property stream flow effects, such as inputs to river and drawbacks multiple endangered species that could be in area, such as Elephantear mussel (candidate for Federal Endangered Species List), which MDC states is now only found in the Meramec River-many Birds of Conservation Concern, as well as a population of Nearly Threatened Red-Headed Woodpeckers(have declined by close to 70%, and return to same tree to nest yearly) are seen regularly in Rte 66 State Park and surrounding areas. Bald Eagles also are seen year-round.

 

*Air quality

-Winter Bros own estimate on their plan states 20-25 diesel trucks entering and leaving per hour (using Rte 66 State Park outer road-approved by MODOT)

-how much air pollution will this add to our area?

-info received says they will be using a diesel hydraulic process during mining operations

 

*Water quality for residents of Eureka, as well as unincorporated STL Co.

-water table impacts. In 10 yrs an aquifer can lower (which their plans state they will be mining this land for 40 yrs to

deplete all the resources)

-about 75% of the 245 acres in Eureka is floodplain. This river floods often, I have seen very large fields of farmland behind my home flood multiple times/year most years. Winter Bros plans state they will only have a 300 foot buffer from the river. When that area floods, where will all the sediment from their mine end up?

-where will the discharge from their process go?