PETITION TO STOP THE LEMAY, MO RUPRECHT QUARRY FILL PROJECT 
 
Protect Our Health, Homes, and Community from 15+ Years of Environmental Hazards
 
To the St. Louis County Council and Local Regulatory Authorities:

We, the undersigned residents of Lemay, Missouri, surrounding zip codes, and concerned citizens, formally object to the proposed plan to backfill the Lemay/Ruprecht Quarry.

This project introduces catastrophic traffic, severe environmental health risks, and structural threats to our community. For over 15 years, our neighborhoods may face the prospect of non-stop heavy industrial activity. We demand an immediate halt to this plan until a comprehensive, independent Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and transparent infrastructure accountability plans are provided to the public.
 
 
 Why This Matters
 
            1. Severe Health Risks & Air Pollution

• Toxic Diesel Emissions: Up to 150 triple-axle dump trucks daily will release high concentrations of fine particulate matter (\(PM_{2.5}\)), nitrogen oxides (\(NO_{x}\)), and ultrafine soot. These pollutants are linked to cardiovascular disease, asthma, and premature death.
• Hyperlocal Danger Zones: Neighborhoods along high-density truck corridors experience sharply elevated risks for chronic respiratory illnesses.
• Fugitive Silica Dust: Uncovered loads of concrete rubble, dirt, and pulverized asphalt shed dust containing crystalline silica. This dust will infiltrate home HVAC systems, settling on vehicles, clothes, and into the lungs of our children and pets.
   
  2. Infrastructure Collapse & Safety Hazards
• Extreme Road Wear: A single fully loaded tri-axle truck (60,000–80,000 lbs) damages residential pavement thousands of times faster than a passenger car.
• Sub-base Failure: Mount Olive Street is only 18 feet wide. Two passing dump trucks (each 8.5 feet wide) leave a clearance of just one foot. This creates an immediate safety hazard for school buses, emergency vehicles, and daily commuters.
• Structural Damage to Homes: Constant heavy truck vibrations will cause severe structural issues, including crumbling foundations, interior/exterior stress cracks, and structural displacement.
• No Financial Accountability: Taxpayers are left holding the bill for road repairs and home damages. The current plan outlines zero accountability or funding for remediation.
   
  3. Environmental Contamination & Flooding
• Spring-Fed Water Risks: The Ruprecht Quarry is a 300-foot-deep spring-fed site. Backfilling it with construction, housing, and road debris will contaminate the active water source.
• Toxic Flooding: Displaced water will flow directly into nearby flood zones, sewers, and residential basements. Illegal water pumping on Paule Avenue has already required intervention by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD).
• Zero Testing Protocols: To date, there are no documented plans to test the incoming debris for hazardous materials, asbestos, or chemical contaminants.
   
  4. Local Business Blight
• Gridlock traffic, crumbling roads, and air pollution will deter customers, destroy local commerce, and lower property values, turning our community into a blighted zone. 

 
 Proposed Operating Schedule Under Protest:

• Standard Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (A heavy truck passing roughly every 3 minutes).
• Emergency Hours: Unregulated dumping allowed 24 hours a day.
• Duration: 15+ years of continuous disruption.

 
 Our Demands:

1.  Immediate Denial of the current Quarry Fill Plan permits.
2. Mandatory Independent Studies assessing air quality, public health impacts, and hydrological risks to the local water table.
3. A Complete Traffic Mitigation Plan that restricts heavy trucks from narrow residential zones like Mount Olive Street..
4. A Legally Binding Bond funded by the developers to cover 100% of future road repairs and structural home damages.
5. Strict Materials Testing and public logging of all debris entering the site.
6. No curbs/sidewalks in the area of the quarry.  Need safety prevention plans on keeping the pedestrians safe.

Take action now. Protect your family, your home, your community and surrounding counties! 

 Sign the petition today to stop the Lemay, MO Ruprecht Quarry Project!