The state will hold a public hearing on proposed RDU quarry near Umstead State Park
The state agency that issues mining permits will hold a public hearing on Wake Stone Corp.’s proposal to expand its operation near Umstead State Park onto land owned by Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources announced Friday that it will hold the hearing digitally at 6 p.m. June 23. People can participate by phone or by computer using WebEx but must register by noon that day to speak.
RDU has leased to Wake Stone 105 acres off Reedy Creek Road where the company plans to develop a quarry. The company proposes building a bridge over Crabtree Creek for trucks to carry stone from the new mine to its existing quarry site off North Harrison Avenue, where it would be crushed, cleaned and loaded onto trucks to market.
In its application for a mining permit, Wake Stone estimates the mine would operate for 30 years, after which the company would work with RDU to make the property available for hiking and cycling around the open pit.
Opponents want the property to remain forested and made available for recreation now. They’ve appealed a judge’s ruling that RDU had the authority to lease the land to Wake Stone without getting permission from the four governments that own the airport: Raleigh, Durham and Durham and Wake counties.
Opponents see the mining permit as another opportunity to either stop the quarry or influence how mining takes place. They urged the state to hold a hearing after restrictions on public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic had been lifted.
But the state said by law it must hold the hearing by July 7 and has opted to do it digitally.
People can join the meeting starting at 5:45 p.m. on June 23 one of two ways:
▪ By phone at 415-655-0003, with meeting access code 617 449 551.
▪ By computer at bit.ly/2AUbHo7, with meeting access code 617 499 551 and meeting password DEQ123.
To register to speak, go to bit.ly/3gdgQYD by noon on June 23.
The state will also take public comments from June 23 to July 3 by phone, 919-707-9209, by email, ncminingprogram@ncdenr.gov or by U.S. mail to Judy Wehner, assistant state mining specialist, Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1612.
