Nov. 4 Quarry Blast 'Demands Additional Scrutiny,' Rep. Lipinski Says

U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3) was sitting at his kitchen table in his Western Springs home Monday afternoon when his house began to "shake violently" after a quarry blast in the area that shook the western suburbs.

Lipinski on Wednesday formally requested that the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported Nov. 4 blast at a Hanson Materials quarry in McCook that damaged nearby properties and alarmed residents throughout the region, according to a news release from Rep. Lipinski's office. 

While homeowners and businesses in the western suburbs are accustomed to being "disturbed and startled" by frequent quarry blasting, the Nov. 4 incident "demands additional scrutiny," Lipinski said in a statement.

"Residents of the area deserve some answers," he added.

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In a letter, the congressman asks that both agencies “ascertain whether laws, regulations, and protocols may have been violated” regarding the purchase, storage and use of explosives, according to the release.

Lipinski is also requesting that the agencies work with state and local governments to make sure the proper measures are in place to protect neighboring communities from similar events in the future.

"This is something that no one should have to tolerate," he said. "The potential for unseen damage to homes and businesses caused by a blast such as this is unacceptable."

The blast was recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as a 3.2 seismic event that reportedly could be felt as far away as southern Wisconsin. In his letter, the congressman noted a smaller seismic event also occurred in 2010 under similar circumstances.

According to the Village of La Grange, there was quarry blasting going on at the Hanson Material Service site Monday, but the company denies it was out of the ordinary and behind the tremor that shook the western suburbs.

"Hanson Material Service quarry has stated that they were preforming routine blasting operations at 12:35 p.m. today and that the blast was consistent with their typical operations. The quarry reports that the recorded seismic readings related to the blast were below regulatory limits," according to a message posted on the village website.

"Further, the quarry states that approximately seven seconds after the blast, a separate seismic event was recorded. Hanson is in the process of reviewing the seismic readings in order to better understand what may have occurred, but at this time they are denying any correlation between their blast and the seismic event."

Claims for damage should be directed to the Hanson Material Service quarry by calling the Lyons Township Quarry Complaint line at 1-866-WE-HEAR-U (1-866-934-3278).

Related:

• Hanson Quarry to Review Monday Blast, Denies Responsibility for Tremors
• Quarry Blast 'Felt Like a Truck Hit the House,' 'Pictures Jumped Off Walls' (COMMENTS)