The Decade-Long Dispute Over TV Butte Quarry

The conflict surrounding the tv butte quarry, situated just outside Oakridge city limits, started in December 2015 when Old Hazeldell Quarry LLC (now Old Hazeldell Quarry, previously Stonebroke LLC), a subsidiary of Crown Properties LLC, submitted a proposal to rezone 107 acres of protected forest land for a mining operation. Of this, 46 acres would be utilized for extraction activities.

Local Concerns and Quarry Opposition

Residents of Oakridge and nearby communities have long resisted the oakridge quarry plan, citing fears of environmental impact and potential health hazards. Sabrina Ratkowski, executive director of Oakridge Strong, an environmental nonprofit, is among the many who have fought the proposal for more than a decade.

On October 15, the Oakridge City Council took a stand by passing a resolution that prohibits use of city resources, such as water, to support mining operations on TV Butte. Five days later, on October 20, the Lane County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the quarry proposal—a significant milestone in the ongoing dispute.

Environmental and Economic Concerns

Oakridge mayor Bryan Cutchen opposes the quarry primarily due to insufficient review of potential effects on the local ecosystem and wildlife, with groundwater contamination being his chief worry. Of additional concern is an old landfill site near the proposed quarry; if hazardous substances from this site leaked into the groundwater, Oakridge could be left liable for cleanup, especially given the liability retained from the land sale in 2011.

Locals also voice concerns about noise, dust pollution, and increased truck traffic. Su Stella, a resident whose home overlooks TV Butte, fears that mining operations will disrupt the town’s tranquility. Environmental activist Mick Garvin doubts the projected employment benefit, stating the quarry’s promise of 10 to 15 full-time jobs would not meaningfully boost local employment.

The Quarry’s Promises and Projected Impact

Crown Properties, led by Ed King of King Estate Winery, continues to press for the quarry despite opposition, emphasizing increased tax revenues as justification. The company’s recent application projects 500,000 tons of gravel would be transported yearly through Oakridge along Highway 58, resulting in an estimated 86 roundtrip truck journeys per day. The quarry further estimates a $137,516 annual contribution in state and local taxes, though only 10 to 15 full-time jobs would be sustained at full operation.

Ratkowski and others remain skeptical, calling the financial benefits overstated and outweighed by risks to tourism, public health, and environmental stability. The volume of daily truck trips is seen as a serious deterrent to Oakridge’s appeal for hikers, mountain bikers, and other tourists drawn by the surrounding national forest.

Groundwater Concerns and The Old Landfill

The proximity of the tv butte quarry to the former Dunning Road Landfill, which may contain hazardous waste from a defunct lumber mill, heightens fears of groundwater contamination. The quarry plan includes a 25-foot buffer from the landfill, but some residents argue this is inadequate protection for Oakridge’s main aquifer, which supplies the town’s drinking water. Recent studies by University of Oregon students reaffirm the need for close scrutiny of these risks due to possible connections between the proposed mining and the aquifer.

Ongoing Process and Community Response

Despite multiple rounds of denials, appeals, and tentative approvals from the Lane County Commissioners—most recently a 3-2 decision in 2025 to draft an ordinance approving the rezoning—the battle over quarry rezoning is far from over. Commissioner votes have largely split along ideological lines, and public input continues to play a pivotal role. Ratkowski affirms the community’s resolve to continue fighting the proposal, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming hearings.

The Lane County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on October 20 at the Lane County Public Service Building, with no set date yet for a final vote on the project. Meanwhile, Oakridge citizens and activists maintain their efforts to influence the future of TV Butte and preserve local environmental integrity in the face of ongoing quarry opposition.

Source: eugeneweekly.com.