Tell Redwood County Planning Commission: Deny Duro Rock Supply Co.’s Application for Swedes Forest Quarry
The area around Swedes Forest Quarry is an irreplaceable ecological and community asset that requires protection from industrial use and destruction. This scenic landscape is home to the Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) and wetlands, restored with significant public and private investment. It plays a pivotal role in local biodiversity and water management, and according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: “Mining is the top threat to bedrock outcroppings in the Minnesota River Valley.”
Duro Rock Supply’s recent request for mining, processing, and stockpiling of granite in Redwood & Yellow Medicine Counties from the Swedes Forest Quarry poses a substantial potential risk for the environmental degradation of these rare and precious resources. The proposed Swede Forest Quarry could introduce substantial new sources of air and noise pollution and threaten water quality and habitats of protected species. Because of these significant potential impacts, the quarry project application should be denied.
Background:
This isn’t the first time Swedes Forest has been threatened by bedrock mining. In 2014, CURE assisted concerned local landowners in organizing and calling attention to a quarry project’s ecological and community dangers. The Yellow Medicine County Board took the threats seriously at that time, and the project was denied.
Fast forward to 2024:
A handful of landowners were notified about a June 25th public hearing before the Redwood County Planning Commission about Duro Rock Supply Co.’s application for an Extraction Interim Use Permit at Swedes Forest Quarry. At the meeting, the Commission postponed a decision on the permit until more information could be gathered. A new meeting date is set for Tuesday, July 30th, at 1 p.m. at the Redwood Falls City Hall (333 S. Washington St).
Once again, there is an urgent need for thorough environmental assessment and active community engagement. Preserving Swedes Forest isn’t just about protecting a beautiful landscape; it’s about ensuring the sustainable stewardship of our shared natural resources for generations to come. Stand with us to safeguard this vital ecosystem by signing the petition to oppose the quarry project and urge the Redwood County Planning Commission to deny the application.
