A hillside above Oakridge could become a rock quarry operating for decades. Lane County commissioners are scheduled to revisit Old Hazeldell Quarry LLC's TV Butte proposal at a public hearing on Tuesday, October 20, at 1:30 p.m. The application envisions extracting andesite from about 46 acres of a 107-acre site over 35 to 50 years. At peak production, the developer estimates 43 truck round trips per day.

Residents and city officials worry that blasting, dust and heavy vehicles could affect the recreation economy. They also point to an old landfill near the proposed crushing area and the Salmon Creek aquifer that supplies drinking water to more than 3,000 people. A preliminary University of Oregon assessment identifies areas needing additional investigation. Those concerns do not establish that the town's water is contaminated; contamination at the landfill remains unverified.

The applicant argues locally quarried stone could lower construction transportation costs and support jobs and tax revenue. Commissioners must consider changes to the county's land-use plan and zoning. The hearing is a step in that process, not approval to begin quarrying.