Mine planned in Poplar, Green Mountain area
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed mine in the Poplar/Green Mountain area on July 29 at 6 p.m. in the old Bowman school building in Bakersville.
According to a DEQ release, the hearing will be about mining permit application 61-22 to mine the Carter Quarry. The permit application was submitted by Horizon 30.
DEQ’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources is hosting the public hearing. If approved, the permit would allow Horizon to operate on 50.8 acres, mining construction aggregate at a proposed depth of 550 feet.
The mine excavation itself would occupy an area of around 23 acres. According to a legal ad submitted the Mitchell News-Journal by Horizon 30, the purpose of the mine is to supply building materials for rebuilding the railroads in the area.
CSX is conducting significant construction activity in the area designated as the future mine entrance.
The public comment period on this permit application will continue for 10 days after the hearing, through Aug. 8. Comments can be submitted to ncminingprogram@deq.nc.gov with the subject line “Horizon 30.” Comments can also be submitted by mail or by leaving a voicemail message.
The phone number for voicemails is (919) 707-9227.
The mailing address for letters regarding the mine is: Kelly Jonas, Assistant State Mining Engineer, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
The July 29 public hearing will be in the auditorium of the Bowman building, located at 410 S. Mitchell Ave. in Bakersville.
Detailed information about the quarry is available online here: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/EnergyMineralLandResources/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=18214&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&cr=1
Maps of the mine and surrounding areas can be found here: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/EnergyMineralLandResources/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=20427&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
For Poplar and Green Mountain residents concerned about how this proposal might affect their land, that second web address includes a map detailing adjoining properties