Alleged Indirect Trespass/Nuisance: Southern Environmental Law Center Limestone County, Alabama Circuit Court Action Addressing Proposed Limestone Quarry/Rock Crushing Facility

The Southern Environmental Law Center (“SELC”) filed a December 9th Complaint for Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”) in the Circuit Court of Limestone County, Alabama on behalf of:

• New Beginnings Covenant Ministries.
• The Belle Mina Methodist Church.

See Case no. 44-CV-2024-900436.00.

The Complaint is filed against Stoned LLC and Grayson Carter & Son Contracting, Inc. (“Defendants”) alleging the above-referenced historic churches and congregations will suffer imminent and irreparable harm in Defendants’ construction and operation of a limestone quarry and rock crushing facility in Belle Mina, Alabama.

SELC argues that Defendants’ construction and operation of the limestone quarry and rock crushing facility will be in close proximity to homes and churches in Belle Mina. The southern border of the quarry is described in the Complaint as approximately 25 feet from residential properties. The western edge is described as less than 100 feet from residential properties and across the street from New Beginnings Covenant Ministries. Belle Mina Methodist Church is stated to be less than 1,800 feet from the southern boundary of the quarry site.

The quarry is described as an open-pit mine designed for the removal of limestone. A rock crushing facility is stated to be planned for the crushing and sorting of limestone. Limestone is then projected to be stockpiled onsite until it is hauled offsite by trucks. Rain and groundwater that fill the quarry pit that is pumped out is projected to be stored in sediment ponds on the perimeter of the site before discharging in Limestone Creek.

The Complaint alleges the following causes of action:

• Nuisance.
  • Flooding.
  • Vibrations.
  • Noise.
  • Dust/particulate matter.
  • Rendering of roads defective, unsafe, and dangerous.
  • Decreasing the water levels of Limestone Creek.
• Indirect trespass.

SELC further alleges:

• Flooding from the Belle Mina Quarry operations will endanger and inconvenience Plaintiffs’ congregants and damage New Beginnings’ property.
• Blasting vibrations, noise, and dust from the Belle Mina Quarry operations will interfere with Plaintiffs’ ability to host worship services and fellowship events.
• Mooresville Road will be rendered defective and dangerous due to greatly increased truck traffic.
• Belle Mina Methodist will be injured by the likely decrease of water levels in Limestone Creek.
• Defendants cannot construct and operate the Belle Mina Quarry in a manner that would not create a nuisance to Plaintiffs.

The Complaint requests temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief against the Defendants regarding quarrying, or which propose to engage in the extraction, processing, transporting, sale, purchase or use of limestone or any other material from the quarry, enjoining and restraining them from proceeding further with the construction or operation of the quarry.

A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.