Bennet and Hurd Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Block Mid-Continent Quarry Expansion

Glenwood Springs —The limestone dust from the Mid-Continent quarry hangs in the air, a fine white powder that settles on windshields and windowsills along Glenwood Canyon, waiting for the next blast to send it swirling. It is a sound locals know well — the deep, resonant thud that vibrates through the soles of your feet and rattles the picture frames in homes perched on the slope. But now, a new layer of tension is settling over that familiar landscape, as federal legislators move to draw a line in the sand, or rather, in the stone.

On Thursday, Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd introduced a bipartisan bill designed to block the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from approving any expansion of the Mid-Continent limestone quarry in Glenwood Springs. The legislation, titled the Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act and backed by Bennet, Hurd, and Senator John Hickenlooper, was announced during a virtual press conference that brought together local officials, tribal representatives, and community leaders. They argued that the proposed expansion threatens not just the physical integrity of Glenwood’s famous hot springs, but also the town’s tourism economy and the daily quality of life for its residents.

Hurd, a Republican whose district encompasses Glenwood Springs, explained that the bill was introduced in the House as H.R. 9826, with an equivalent measure moving through the Senate on the same day. “Together we are introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Hickenlooper and Representative Hurd to prevent the federal land office from approving any expansion of the Mid-Continent quarry,” Bennet said. “Glenwood’s hot springs are part of our identity as Coloradans, and I am pleased to lead this fight to protect them.”

The push comes after the agency determined in June that Rocky Mountain Industrials’ latest plan for the quarry was complete, a procedural step that allows the proposal to advance to technical review before a future public evaluation process. Under the current plan, the federally approved surface area of the quarry would more than triple, growing from approximately 16 acres to 56.1 acres. Rocky Mountain Industrials is seeking authorization to extract material several hundred feet upslope from the existing operation, which would include conducting blasts on the unstable and prominent cliff face left after the 2023 slide on the western wall of the quarry, as well as extracting more material from the upper slope.

The Bureau has clarified that its determination of completeness does not constitute an approval of the expansion, but rather allows the agency to begin reviewing Rocky Mountain Industrials’ modified operations plan. Yet for Hurd, the location is everything. He supports mining, energy production, and responsible resource development, but believes this particular expansion is in the wrong place.

“Responsible resource development means recognizing that not all places are appropriate for all projects,” Hurd said. “Responsible development requires judgment, balance, and respect for the communities that must live with the consequences of these decisions long after Washington has stopped paying attention.”

As the legislative machinery gears up, the community watches closely, wondering if this bill will hold firm against the weight of industrial ambition. The dust may settle, but for now, the air in Glenwood Springs feels charged with anticipation, heavy with the promise of protection and the lingering echo of upcoming blasts.