A limestone quarry proposed in Utah’s Parleys Canyon would supposedly impose a footprint of no more than 20 acres at the base of Grandeur Peak, but its impact would be felt far beyond its open pit and adjacent Wasatch Mountain foothills.

Under state law, “small mining operations” that disturb less than 20 acres are subject to minimal review by the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, or DOGM. But state law also requires the agency ensure that “mining operations be conducted to minimize or prevent hazards to public health and safety.”