Wholesome MAR seeks approval to expand Gaslight sand-and-gravel operation; experts testify impacts are limited

Wholesome MAR Inc. asked a Prince George’s County hearing examiner April 16 to approve Special Exception 22007 — dubbed “Gaslight 3” — a proposal to relocate and replace an existing surface sand-and-gravel mine and to add roughly 328.02 acres to the overall mining operation, of which about 230.45 acres would be used for active mining.

The applicant’s attorney, Matthew Tedesco, opened the hearing and said the proposal would use an existing wet processing plant on the adjacent property and an overland conveyor so raw material would not be hauled off-site for processing. Tedesco said the application was being reviewed under the prior zoning ordinance and asked the examiner to accept revised conditions the applicant submitted as Exhibit 46.

Why it matters: The proposal would expand an industrial extraction use near rural residences and environmental resources in Prince George’s County, affecting land cover, nearby private wells, surface-water drainage and local traffic. The record includes several technical studies and testimony from the applicant’s experts and questions and objections from neighbors.

What the applicant says: Timothy Bavard, land manager for Wholesome MAR Inc., described the project as a “replacement reserve” for the existing Gaslight 2 site that will be conveyed to the plant by an electrically powered conveyor rather than by truck. Bavard testified the conveyor “is quiet and does not produce dust,” and said the plan calls for four mining phases, on-site sediment basins and perimeter buffers. He said roughly 100 acres of the added property would be…