The Prince George’s County Planning Board approved a plan June 28 for a quarry on McKendree Road in Brandywine, despite renewed concerns by residents over the noise and environmental impact of the proposed operation.

Rockville-based Aggregate Industries Inc. is working toward final approval of a five-year mining operation at the proposed Millville Quarry, an estimated 500-acre sand and gravel mining facility at the intersection of McKendree and Accokeek roads.

According to the proposal, to fight noise and air pollution spreading off the site of the quarry, the company will install a series of 12- to 18-foot-high berms to trap noise and dust, as well as use water trucks to spray dust in the air and keep it from leaving the facility.

Despite the mitigation measures, some residents are still concerned about the proposed quarry’s effect on neighboring properties.

Johnson Kunlipe owns six parcels of land adjacent to a current mining operation, also on McKendree Road, operated by Aggregate Industries. Although he is almost finished developing the first of these parcels into a residential home, he said he is concerned about moving forward with his other properties.

“During the last storm we had [in April], McKendree Road was shut down because of water on the roadway,” Kunlipe said, “because the berms and the sediment controls in place at the current facility failed.”

Dan Lynch, an attorney representing Aggregate Industries, disputed that the company’s current operation contributed to the flooding.

“McKendree Road has all sorts of issues above and beyond the mining operation,” he said. “We’ve reviewed with [the Department of Public Works and Transportation], and we’re actually already required to do some work on McKendree Road, but I can’t say that will cure the flooding problem out there.”

Before the project can move forward, Aggregate Industries must obtain a permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment. It could also be delayed if the County Council, which acts as the District Council on land-use and zoning issues, chooses to review the project further.

Clairemont Simon, who lives “within 20 steps” of McKendree Road, said he and other residents will continue to fight the proposed quarry.

“We’re just going to have to deal with the problems as they come up in the future,” Simon said after the hearing.

ewagner@gazette.net