Riding on Old Reedy Creek Road thru Umstead State Park feels exhilarating. It is my “away”, my relief valve. Overhead, planes take people to their destination. I imagine vacationers flying far away to relax and rejuvenate. Down below, I am pedaling hard, grinding down my anxieties, my worries, my fears, seeking the calm serenity that comes from flying down the hills that I have just climbed.
The trails within Umstead State Park are a refuge, easily traversed, no flight or fee required. People from all over share these paths thru the forest; walkers, runners, bikers, horseback riders. We go at different speeds and have different needs, but the trails are accessible to all.
Seeing a wildflower, hearing an owl screech, watching the forest green and sway reminds me that life within our urban oasis is vibrant and exciting and full of possibilities. On INaturalist you can find an inventory of species found within the park, and you can contribute your own findings to share with others. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/william-b-umstead-state-park-species-inventory
Incomprehensibly, our park is under threat by the expansion of the Wake Stone Rock Quarry. This open pit quarry will expose trail users to increased amounts of particulate matter air pollution. Particles of size smaller than 2.5 um (PM2.5), are harmful to our lungs, hearts and brains and compromises human health.
The Airport Overlay for the City of Raleigh states “Provision is also made to ensure the attractiveness of this significant gateway to the City and to protect the public from adverse health effects and annoyance by aircraft noise.”
Any occupation disturbing the earth’s crust increases the risk of silicosis. That includes blasting, cutting, excavating, quarry work and mining. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-silicosis-lung-disease-comeback.html
PM2.5 is invisible, you can’t see it, but new affordable air quality sensors can. I took the Plume Flow Sensor on a bike ride thru Umstead and measured high readings of PM2.5 and PM10 on a windy day near the Wake Stone Quarry.
Increasing the amount of PM2.5 exposure to recreational users of Umstead State Forest by expanding the Wake Stone Quarry must not be done without a full NEPA or SEPA review, with opportunity for air quality monitoring, testing for the amount of silica in the PM2.5 near Wake Stone Quarry, communicating the risks to the public, and obtaining their feedback.
A plume of air pollution, through which people must traverse to experience and enjoy Umstead State Park is not the gateway that we need.
Please sign the petition opposing this rock quarry expansion.
