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March 1, 2017

Augusta ponders commercial blasting rights

Rock-blasting at commercial quarries in Augusta has prompted councilors there to reconsider noise provisions in the city’s mineral extraction ordinance.

The Kennebec Journal reported McGee Construction has been in a long-running dispute with neighbors, who have complained about damage to their homes and disruptions to their lives. A change in the ordinance would affect McGee and Quirion Construction, the only other mineral extraction operation involving blasting in Augusta.

The council is considering maintaining the status quo for the current construction season, in order not to disrupt operations, with any changes that might be made to be in place for the 2018 construction season.

“We don’t want an acceleration of blasts impacting the neighborhood, and we don’t want a deceleration of blasts affecting the businesses,” Mayor David Rollins told the paper.

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