Old Hickory asphalt plant to move forward despite objections

The Metro Nashville Health Department on Feb. 24 issued a permit for Jones Bros LLC to begin operating a hot-mix asphalt plant at 771 Burnett Road in Old Hickory — about 1,600 feet from Old Hickory Beach. The health department’s decision comes despite resistance from many Old Hickory residents, who wrote more than 400 comments during the permit’s extended public comment process — citing concerns about air quality, pollution, odors and disruption to local wildlife.

Alongside the permit, the Metro Nashville Health Department published reports addressing residents’ concerns. The department also conducted two studies to model the effects the proposed plant would have on air quality — effects they now say are negligible by federal air quality standards. In an email sent to individuals who submitted public comments, Air Pollution Control Division director John Finke stated that “due to the overwhelming concern for adverse health effects from both criteria and hazardous pollutants, Air Pollution Control (APC) conducted two different modeling studies, normally reserved for much larger sources. Both studies showed minimal impact from the proposed plant.”