State regulators say they have issued a water withdrawal permit for a mine that’s being proposed for Beaufort County, N.C. The Division of Water resources okayed the permit to Martin Marietta Materials, so it can remove up to 12 million gal. of groundwater a day for the proposed mine, according to WITN TV.
Several groups oppose the mine, saying the future quarry operations could damage Blounts Creek when it discharges that groundwater into the creek. The state maintains Martin Marietta will need to adhere to stringent requirements with the permit. That includes daily monitoring of water withdrawals, monthly monitoring of water levels and annual measurement, and modeling from where the water is withdrawn.
Some 106 people attended a public hearing this summer on the permit. The state said based on that feedback, the company must follow up on groundwater well complaints within a specific timeline, as well as updating its map of the zone of influence every year.
The company must still get one more approval from the Division of Coastal Management, and modify its mining permit from the state Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources to reflect its capacity use and discharge permits.
The quarry will be located on 1,664 acres, and is expected to include a 649-acre open pit for mining.