Proposed Martin Marietta Mine in Beaufort County
**March Update: State Agency Tells Martin Marietta: More information Required
Letters from the state Division of Water Quality in January, February and March have requested that Martin Marietta provide more details regarding the proposed new mine and the impact of 12 million gallons per day discharge to Blounts Creek.
DWQ has requested the company do the following:
- Provide DWQ alternatives analysis that details other potential mine sites
- Model the effect of the mine process wastewater discharge on the biochemistry of Blounts Creek.
- Provide a qualitative indirect and cumulative impact analysis for the project.
- Define the zone of impact to Blounts Creek from the wastewater discharge, analyzing the impact to salinity, amount of flow and impacts to fish and their habitat.
- Provide alternatives analysis that includes 1) re-injection of the water and 2) treatment and conveyance the water as a drinking water supply or other re-usable purposes.
View DWQ’s response letters:
February 13, 2012 regarding further analysis for NPDES permit
February 15, 2012 regarding public hearing
March 2, 2012 letter regarding the 401 permit application
Public Hearing Pending
To date the state Division of Water Quality has yet to set the date for the public hearing. As soon as PTRF learns of the date, we will get the word out. Stay tuned!
Recent News Coverage
Washington Daily News- State Wants More Analysis, Betty Gray
NC Coastal Review- Mine Discharge Could Affect Blounts Creek, Jerry Allegood
Background
Martin Marietta Inc (view map) has applied for state and federal permits to develop a new 50-year open pit marine limestone mine in southern Beaufort County, east of Vanceboro, within the Blounts Creek watershed. The company will impact 6.69 acres of wetlands and 11 miles of jurisdictional waters to develop the 649 acre open pit mine. It is estimated that 9 million gallons per day of Castle Hayne groundwater and stormwater will be pumped from the open mine pit and discharged into 2 locations in upper Blounts Creek. The estimated drawdown (or cone of depression) of the Castle Hayne aquifer (Beaufort County’s drinking water supply) is at least 5 feet for up to 6-7 miles, impacting as many as 195 family and landowner wells. The mine is also located within the cone of depression of the Potash Aurora phosphate mine which means the Castle Hayne Aquifer will lose over 80 million gallons of high quality groundwater water per day.
The company has applied for a NPDES permit. The draft permit has not been released to date. A 30 day public comment period will be available once the draft permit is released. The company must also apply for a Water Use Permit from the Division of Water Resources. The company has not yet applied for this permit.
More Information
PTRF 401 Permit Comments to the Division of Water Quality
Corps of Engineers Public Notification
Corps Extension of Comment Deadline Notice
404/401 Application (warning, this is a large file- 22MB)
Mining Permit 12.2 Mb file (originally issued in 12/2010, modification approved 9/7/2011)
Map of Cone of Depression of groundwater drawdown
Take Action
Tell Governor Perdue and Secretary of the Department Environment and Natural Resources Dee Freeman that you oppose the issuance of any state permit for the proposed Martin Marietta Materials mine in Beaufort County until the company has adequately analyzed the impacts of the mine and offerred alternatives that reduce the waste of groundwater.
Call or email Governor Perdue and Secretary Dee Freeman!
Gov. Perdue (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391
Sec. Dee Freeman (919) 707-8622
Comments can be emailed to Gov. Perdue here and to Sec. Dee Freeman here!
Carbon copy your comments to local & state officials:
Beaufort Co. Manager Randell Woodruff: randell.woodruff@co.beaufort.nc.us
Director of Division of Water Quality Chuck Wakild: chuck.wakild@ncdenr.gov
Director of Division of Water Resources Tom Reeder: tom.reeder@ncdenr.gov
Army Corps of Engineers Attn: William Wescott: william.g.wescott@usace.army.mil
