WINDHAM–Residents surrounding Windham Town Councilor Peter Busque’s quarry on Nash Road in Windham heard further details of his plan to mine rock deep below the water table.

Busque has submitted an application to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for two variances to state law regarding external drainage and excavation below the water table. The decision whether to allow the variances is expected to be made in the next few weeks. If Busque receives approval from the state, the variances would then be put to a vote at the Windham Planning Board.

Most alarming to residents, about 10 of whom attended a public hearing at the East Windham Fire Station on Wednesday at 2 p.m., was the revelation that material would be excavated up to 120 feet below the water table. Residents were worried that their wells could become polluted by released radon or dry up as a result of shifting of the area’s bedrock caused by the deep excavation.

“I didn’t know how deep he was planning to go, I was pretty surprised to say the least,” said Nash Road resident Margaret Pinchbeck, who’s been an outspoken critic of the quarry.

According to James Lowery, senior civil engineer with Sebago Technics, the firm Busque hired to map the quarry, neighbors’ concerns are unwarranted due to the composition of the underground rock at the site. He also said quarry operations around the state regularly drill as deep as 150 feet under the existing water table.

Certified geologist Richard Sweet, of Falmouth-based Sweet Associates, told residents that drilled numerous test wells have been drilled around the quarry property and a 72-hour pump test has measured variations of the water level deep below the ground. He said those test borings revealed granite-like rock in the quarry that would prevent seepage of contaminants into neighboring wells. And because of “very fine” fracturing in the rock, nearby wells won’t see less water flow when mining begins, he said.

“This rock is very, very tight,” Sweet said, “That’s a good thing because that means you should not see a drop in the water table.”

While Sweet and Lowery said they couldn’t fully guarantee water quality or quantity after quarry operations begin, they said groundwater test wells would be installed to constantly monitor water quality “throughout the life of the quarry,” which could be 30 years. That didn’t comfort one of the closest residents to the quarry, Carl Russell owner of the Avante Garde kennel.

“Once (the pollution is) there, oh well. Basically when they get to a certain point, and there’s a problem, they’ll stop. Well, isn’t that wonderful?” Russell said.

Russell also questioned Busque’s previous statements during the past quarry debate indicating he wouldn’t excavate below the water table. “It’s more than disappointing, it’s dishonest,” Russell said of Busque’s change of plans. Russell said Busque may not have got plan approval had town councilors known he would excavate so deeply.

The issue was brought up at the meeting, with Busque refusing to answer the question. “Excuse me, can we focus on the permitting issues…not why I’m getting it now. We’re just going to waste each other’s time with that,” he said.

Dennis Hawkes, another opponent of the quarry, then said, “Peter, that is an issue. Initially, you said you were not going below the groundwater. Now that’s changed. So, it is an issue for everyone in the neighborhood.”

Lowery then tried to comfort the residents saying, “Regardless of the reasons why, this will get a rigorous review from the state and it will also have to go through the local process with the town to amend the plan that has been approved.”

After the meeting, when questioned about the matter, Busque said he was “lining up” approvals he’d need for the future operation of the quarry in the event he wanted to dig below the water table.