Grant awarded to Benton Township quarry dumping group

BENTON TOWNSHIP — The group opposing dumping at a Benton Township quarry has received a grant from an environmental group.The Center for Health, Environment and Justice has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Benton Township Quarry Opposition group, which lists 561 members on Facebook.The group is opposed to the placing of waste materials from a Toledo water filter plant at the former StoneCo Quarry, now known as the Rocky Ridge Quarry. The group contends the activity threatens water wells in the area.The CHEJ, which seeks to support grassroots environmental groups, sent a statement to the Benton Township group.It said, "The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice is honored to be able to provide this grant to The Benton Township Quarry Dumping Opposition group. The program was very competitive, and their proposal reached the top because of the incredible work they are doing.""Grassroots groups across the country are underfunded given the level of impact they have on their communities and larger social change policies. CHEJ is privileged to be able to provide resources to all of these powerful groups, thanks to a small number of generous donors."On its website, the CHEJ states it grew out of the battle over the contamination caused by Love Canal in New York."Since 1981, we have helped more than 15,000 groups — comprising roughly 2.25 million people — successfully fight environmental health threats across the country," the group states on its website. "Recently, for instance, groups in Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio have put a stop to fracking in their backyards thanks in part to work with CHEJ."The Benton Township Quarry Opposition group appears to be picking up momentum.Last week, Ottawa County's prosecuting attorney, James VanEerten, filed a lawsuit against the quarry, seeking to shut down the dumping operation.Common Pleas Judge Bruce Winters issued a temporary restraining order shutting down quarry operations. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled before Winters on March 7.