NATCHEZ — A proposed oil well operation on land that fronts Cemetery Road is raising the eyebrows of the National Cemetery Administration and the Natchez Preservation Commission.

Rex Kern, director of the Natchez National Cemetery, said he was not aware of the proposed oil well operation by DRAYCO Exploration, LLC until 10 a.m. on Wednesday. He said representatives from the National Cemetery Administration had to be flown in last-minute from Washington, D.C., and Atlanta to attend a Natchez Preservation Commission meeting Wednesday.

“The plan that the oil company brought to us was very vague,” Kern said.

Kern said from what he understands, the company initially tried to proceed without obtaining a permit.

Kern said one of his main concerns is how the landscape of the cemetery will be impacted.

“The scene there now is one of serenity,” he said. “It’s a place to go visit your loved ones without any major distractions. We’re afraid that’s going to be an issue.”

Kern said he is also concerned that the 24/7 oil operation will interrupt veterans’ and military honors services at the cemetery’s Committal Service Shelter.

Kern said he is not only concerned about the national cemetery but the city cemetery and nearby residents as well.

Marty Seibert, chairman of the Natchez Preservation Commission, said many people are concerned with the long-term effects of the operation.

Seibert said DRAYCO developers were very willing, when asked, to take representatives from the national and city cemeteries and commission members out to the site.

“We asked them to take us out there to give us a viewshed,” she said. “If you were standing on top of the hill at the national cemetery, what would you see?”

Both Seibert and Kern said there are concerns from residents in the neighborhood about constant oil truck traffic and the vibrations from the well-drilling.

“The reason they bought there was to be in that historic bluff,” Kern said. “This could potentially lower the value of their home.”

Seibert said the “directional” drilling will start on land owned by Fred and Ruth Emrick and go toward the city cemetery.

Hank Schlau, a resident of Cemetery Road, said he believes the voices of the representatives of the veterans and the National Cemetery Administration who flew in from around the country for Wednesday’s meeting should carry the most weight.

“They used words like sacred and shrines,” he said. “They said they didn’t think it was appropriate to have an industrial development anywhere near that sacred ground.”

“These people have a lot to do,” Schlau said.

“I think that speaks volumes to how serious they’re taking this. They dropped everything to come to this meeting because there just wasn’t enough information given.”

Schlau said he thinks this oil well has implications for all Natchez historic districts.

Seibert said there were many aspects to weigh and clarify before a decision could be made.

Natchez City Planner Bob Nix said the developers at DRAYCO are some of the better applicants he has worked with and are doing everything they can do to work with the city to address the concerns that have been brought up during the application process.

Nix said he invited the National Cemetery Administration to send an engineer to attend a preliminary site plan review meeting. He said he is not worried about damage to the city cemetery.

“I don’t think there is going to be any effect on the cemetery,” Nix said.

Nix said the city engineer will take a look at the finalized site plans and address any further concerns.

Kern said there will be a public meeting addressing the oil well operation at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday in the Natchez City Council Chambers.

He said there seems to be a rush to get the application through.

“It is my understanding that they’re trying to get this in front of the planning commission on the 22 and the aldermen on the 26,” Kern said.

There was no answer Thursday afternoon at the number listed for DRAYCO Exploration, LLC on the operator list on the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board’s website.