The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has granted the renewal of a permit for Martin Marietta Materials Inc.’s Vanceboro Quarry. This decision follows a public hearing held on November 19 in Washington, North Carolina, and an open comment period.
The renewed permit, effective April 1, 2025, will oversee mine dewatering and stormwater discharge into unnamed tributaries of Blounts Creek. The creek is classified as a Class C, Swamp, Nutrient Sensitive waterbody within the Tar-Pamlico River Basin.
The permit mandates bi-monthly monitoring for pH levels, total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity in the quarry’s discharge. Additionally, once discharging begins, biological integrity must be assessed every two years through studies of benthic macroinvertebrates.
Further details about the permit and related technical information are available online. The division’s report on public comments can also be accessed via their website.
