Residents at ADEM hearing raise property, air and water concerns over Rogers Group site work

At a public hearing held Oct. 23, 2025, residents urged the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to scrutinize a proposed permit related to Rogers Group’s site work, saying blasting and earth-moving have caused sinkholes, cracked foundations and dust that they fear will harm property values and water and air quality.

“My name is Mike. I live at 205 Darks, Drake at the Landmarks Street,” said a resident who identified himself only as Mike, showing video and saying, “It’s sinking it’s going to a sinkhole. Sinkhole that Rogers Group created.” He described cracked walls and driveways, “rocks on our roof,” heavy dust, and horses spooked by debris.

The concerns extended beyond immediate property damage. Another resident described local drainage patterns — naming Spring Creek, Dry Creek and Cornelius Landing — and asked whether the site’s distance from nearby waterways and the potential for redirected runoff had been evaluated. “There will be things that will possibly affect how the floodwaters get handled,” the speaker said, requesting clarity about what distance and regulations were considered.

At least one commenter pressed the department on monitoring. Jack Cowan asked, “Will there be any air monitors around the facility once it’s in operation?” and whether there had been or would be ongoing groundwater testing. ADEM staff present said questions would not be answered during the hearing but would be addressed in the written response to comments.

Speakers repeatedly asked that regulators consider impacts to neighbors rather than focus solely on issuing permits. Mike said residents worry that uncoordinated blasting by contractors could compound damage, noting the possibility of simultaneous charges: “What happens when . . . they don’t coordinate their shooting and these shootings happen at the same time?”

A separate commenter, Darling Harrison of Ironhead Estates, asked about a cemetery mentioned earlier in the proceedings; staff said that question would also be addressed in the department’s response to comments.

The department reminded attendees that the public comment period would close at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025; all oral remarks may be submitted in writing to ADEM’s Montgomery office by that deadline to be included in the record. After consideration of oral and written comments, the department said it will make a determination on the proposed permit action and prepare responses to relevant comments.

The hearing record in the transcript contains residents’ firsthand descriptions, questions about monitoring and hydrology, and the procedural instruction that the department will respond in writing rather than answer questions at the microphone.