The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is holding a public hearing on a proposed rock quarry near the entrance of Cheaha State Park in Anniston next month after extending the period for public comments.

Residents near Oxford and Heflin are expressing concerns about the quarry plan, such as fears of environmental damage, noise pollution and drinking water contamination.

“It impacts plant and animal life and there’s a reservoir there within short distance and you’ve got subdivisions that will be affected by the blasting,” nearby Jake Matthews told AL.com last month.

AL.com reported last month that area residents felt blindsided after learning about the project as the public comment period was coming to a close. The public comment period was extended to December 22. Public comments can be submitted electronically or sent by mail.

A public hearing on proposed permits for the quarry is now scheduled for Tuesday, January 23 at 6 p.m. at the Oxford Civic Center at 401 McCullars Lane in Oxford.

Pillar Materials, LLC, is seeking an Air Permit and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for the facility.

ADEM draft permits say the quarry would be used to harvest dolomite limestone.

Residents have organized and created a website noquarryinoxford.com to oppose the quarry plan. The site refers to the quarry as a “385 acre mega rock quarry” and says “this is not compatible with surrounding uses,” like the Cedar Ridge Golf Course and hiking trails in the Talladega National Forest.

Environmental advocates have questioned whether the quarry might pollute into nearby Coosa River tributaries Jackson and Choccolocco Creeks.

“I have had a number of people with concerns about impacts to their wells, about impacts their property value, about impacts to Choccolocco Creek, which is an impaired creek, as well,” Coosa Riverkeeper Executive Director Justinn Overton told AL.com last month.