There is an ongoing construction project within the Town of Abingdon along Rt. 75. Part of this project requires that sewer and water infrastructure be installed. The area has a substantial amount of rock that prohibits the installation of this critical infrastructure.
The contractor hired a professional firm to conduct targeted blasting to loosen up the rock and make the construction possible. The contractor hired has been in the blasting business since 1937.
The Town is very transparent. When a Freedom of Information Act request is submitted, the Town has 5 business days to respond. When one was received on this project on June 3rd and it was answered on the morning of June 4th. The second request came in 1:55pm on June 4th and it was fulfilled at 2:24pm on June 4th. This response included the requested documents.
1. The blasting will be along a 4-foot-wide path that is 250 feet long alongside Rt. 75. They will drill to bedrock (approximately 10-15 feet down) then 2-6 feet into bedrock and then 2-6 feet below the blast location to optimize the blast. The blasts will be between approximately 1 foot apart. There will be blasting blankets on top of each site so that there will be minimal debris.
2. The applicant for the blasting permit is insured for $2,000,000 in general liability and has a $5,000,000 umbrella policy. The law requires that they have $1,000,000 in coverage. Their coverage far exceeds the requirements.
3. The applicant Austin Powder Company of Wise, VA (its parent company is Ohio) has been in the blasting business since 1937. They were hired by East Coast Blasting & Drilling Incorporated, a Virginia licensed company, to carry out the work. East Coast Blasting & Drilling was hired by the developer.
4. The project has two certified blasters with unrestricted limits on their permits that will oversee this project.
5. Abingdon’s Fire Chief is the town’s Fire Marshal. As such, he is responsible for reviewing and approving any blasting permit that meets the legal and administrative criteria. These permits have been approved in the past using the same process as proscribed by the State Fire Marshal and Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
6. The blasting applicant hired a third party (VCE) company to inspect homes and document conditions that are within a given distance to the targeted blast zone.
7. VCE works for and the resulting work product belongs to their client. They are under no legal obligation to give their work product to any party other than to those the client requests.
8. VCE is not a company with certified blasters employed. They are not the subject matter experts on blasting questions.
9. The blasting company is required to notify the Town 24-hours in advance of any blasting. The Town will post this notice to social media and our website soon thereafter.
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