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Buck Mining representative warns he will close pit if township insists on $100,000 maintenance bond
Summary
At Millstone’s June 3, 2026 township meeting, a Buck Mining representative said he would cease operations and “bring the slopes down” if the committee requires the $100,000 maintenance bond recommended by the municipal engineer; officials said they must review the bond paperwork before deciding.
A Buck Mining representative told the Millstone Township Committee on June 3 that he would shut the pit and “bring the slopes down” if the committee requires a $100,000 maintenance bond recommended by the municipal engineer and does not approve his two-year renewal permit.
The owner, speaking during the public portion of the meeting, said the company had already used bond funds to pave a road in 2025 and that the township currently holds a letter of credit or bond for $51,730. “If I don’t have a bond and I can’t work, I’m shutting it down and I’m bringing down the slopes,” he said.
Committee members told the owner they could not make a decision without seeing the maintenance-bond documentation. Officials repeated the municipal engineer’s recommendation that the owner post a $100,000 bond to guarantee restoration or repaving of Millstone and Pineh Hill roads if truck traffic causes damage. The committee asked the owner to submit the bond paperwork for review and planned to have Kevin, township staff, and the municipal engineer examine the language and dollar amount before the next decision.
The committee outlined the conditions that would accompany any renewal: compliance with the township mining code, restoration of road damage caused by trucks, up-to-date insurance, and periodic reporting to the engineer “if required.” Officials also said the permit remains subject to revocation for violations and that the owner might be asked to appear again for review in March 2027.
The owner repeatedly said a $100,000 bond was excessive given the road’s condition and the work he had already paid for; he pressed for a two-year permit and said county partners were encouraging a two-year authorization. Township members urged the owner to provide the bond document so staff and the engineer could make a recommendation on an appropriate, mutually agreeable amount.
No formal vote or permit decision was taken. The committee’s follow-up actions were procedural: staff will request the maintenance-bond paperwork, Kevin will contact the municipal engineer to review the document and recommend a bond amount, and the issue will return for consideration after that review.
