Last week, your Cape Fear Riverkeeper joined other advocates and concerned community members to speak at the public hearing for the proposed Castle Hayne Quarry expansion. Kemp urged the N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) to deny Martin Marietta’s 404 Permit application and called for an Environmental Impact Statement that would clearly examine its economic justification and environmental and community impacts, and alternative sites for the project.
Under the Clean Water Act, the discharge of dredged materials into wetlands and other waters must be permitted through a 404 Permit, and the state must verify that the project will not violate the state’s water quality standards through a 401 Certification. Martin Marietta has applied for a 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which requires that 401 Certification. As proposed, the quarry expansion would unnecessarily degrade 143.46 acres of valuable wetlands and 9.70 acres of open water, in violation of our water quality standards.
DCM is continuing to accept comments on the expansion through August 13th, and we have resources to help you write yours available here.
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