The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources has denied a mining permit application submitted by Horizon 30 LLC. The decision was made in accordance with the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971.
A Watauga Superior Court judge determined on August 13, 2025, that Horizon 30 had been operating a mine without proper authorization. The court issued a preliminary injunction requiring the company to halt all mining activities immediately and begin reclamation efforts at the site. Following this ruling, the Division denied Horizon 30’s permit application under N.C.G.S. § 74-51(d)(7).
Before the court order, Horizon 30 operated without a valid permit on a roughly 50-acre property, with about 23 acres directly affected by excavation. The Division continues to oversee reclamation work to ensure compliance with state requirements.
Details about Horizon 30’s application process, related documentation from the Division, information about the public hearing held in July, and specifics regarding the permit denial are available through the DEQ website.
