CARY, N.C. — The battle over the Triangle Quarry expansion near Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Umstead State Park has come to an end for now.
What You Need To Know
The state denied a permit that would have expanded a mine near RDU and Umstead State Park
The decision is a blow to Wake Stone Corporation, but environmental advocates are taking it as a win
Opponents of the permit voiced concern about impacts to wildlife, various levels of pollution and damage to the park
Wake Stone says it disagrees with the outcome and will appeal the decision
On Friday, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources (DEMLR) announced that it denied Wake Stone Corporation's Permit. The request included the proposed expansion of mining operations, including the construction of a new pit at the Wake County location.
DEMLR’s decision, which was more than two years in the making, says the plan would, "have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park, forest or recreation area.”
The permit denial is a blow to Wake Stone Corporation, but environmental advocates are taking it as a win for Umstead State Park’s 5,600 acres and the more than one million people who visit it every year.
On Saturday, the Umstead Coalition led a hike near the site that was included in the permit proposal. Advocates and local groups have been holding educational events at least once a month for the past several years in order to show people renderings, provide updates on the permit process and offer opportunities for people to write to lawmakers.
“Let’s experience this park that we own, and let’s see what’s at stake,” said Erv Portman, an advisor to the Umstead Coalition. “Too often these things are dealt with in government offices with documents that are not three dimensional. People don’t understand and grasp what’s being proposed.”
Saturday’s hike felt somewhat celebratory after DEMLR’s announcement on Friday.
“I was not surprised because it just makes sense not to allow a quarry next to a state park. But you never know when big money is involved. It’s been a very long battle,” said Mark Stohlman, the former mayor of Morrisville. “We’re in the middle of a very urban area, but yet you feel like you’re out in the middle of nowhere.”
People against the permit say this particular quarry would harm wildlife, the environment and jeopardize Umstead State Park.
“Air pollution created from the dust that’s created when you’re doing blasting and mining, noise pollution from the 400-plus trucks a day that would be needed to pull the stone out of this new quarry,” Stohlman said. "I think especially with the growth that we have in Wake County, you need recreation space. You can’t just keep on paving over everything. You can’t just keep tearing down forests. You need a place that people can get away from the madness of urban living. Umstead fits the bill. It’s an absolute gem of a place."
Portman was carrying his grandson during Saturday’s hike and explained the situation to him, “We’re going to try to prevent nothing from happening. We’re going to try to keep it so you can bring your kids here and they can bring their kids here.”
Portman says the permit denial means this common inheritance will be around for future generations while insisting the work to preserve it will continue on.
“The fight is not over. I don’t think the fight will ever be over really. We’re always going to be challenged to do what we can to protect our environment,” Portman said.
In response to the decision by DEMLR, Wake Stone Corporation President and CEO Sam Bratton released the following statement:
“We respectfully disagree with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources’ decision to deny Wake Stone’s mining permit modification and will appeal the decision. Our excellent record of environmental stewardship and 40-year history of being a good neighbor to Umstead State Park with no adverse impact is evidence we can do the same on the Odd Fellows property. As we await a decision by the Court, the Triangle Quarry will continue to operate and supply much-needed natural resources to support the strong economic growth we are experiencing in the Triangle Region.”
To learn more about DEMLR’s decision, visit the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s website.