After opposition from local residents, the Bartow County Planning Commission has recommended denying a proposed mine near Adairsville.

Yellowstone Mining is seeking a zoning change to allow mining near Adairsville.
Credit: Bartow County Planning Commission

The Bartow County Planning Commission is recommending denial of a proposed mine in North Georgia. The decision now rests with the county’s sole commissioner, who has a hearing scheduled Wednesday. 

Yellowstone Mining is seeking a zoning change to allow mining on a tract of land near Adairsville, a town of nearly 5,000 people about 60 miles northwest of Atlanta.

The type of mine isn’t specified, but residents have organized an effort to oppose it, and turned out at a meeting Monday night.

Sharon Nelson Viktora, who is organizing the effort, said they’re concerned about several impacts, including drinking water.

“Any kind of mining that's done there does have the potential to upset our water,” she said. “And, you know, we don't want the noise and the blasting and the heavy industrial traffic on these smaller routes either.”

The city of Adairsville and nearby Barnsley Resort also came out against the mine.