Environmental concerns in North Carolina are mounting as state officials seek legal action against a company accused of operating a mine without proper authorization. Horizon 30, the company in question, faces allegations of causing significant sediment pollution affecting local waterways.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Department of Justice are pressing for a preliminary injunction against Horizon 30, according to a filing made on February 17 in Mitchell County Superior Court. The state claims sediment from the quarry near Poplar has led to ongoing violations of the Mining Act, necessitating court intervention to compel Horizon 30 to rectify the situation.
In an earlier incident on February 4, environmental organizations issued a formal notice to Horizon 30 about their intent to sue, citing concerns over acid mine drainage and sediment runoff into nearby waterways.
Horizon 30 initiated operations at the quarry site in early 2025 without acquiring the necessary permits from DEQ. The company had halted operations in August following a lawsuit and a subsequent injunction. Despite having its remediation plan approved in December, inspections revealed severe sediment issues.
During inspections on September 30 and October 21, DEQ inspectors noted ongoing sediment pollution. They observed turbid water running from the site into the Nolichucky River and Hollow Poplar Creek, with the level of sediment damage described as severe.
Further investigations included water sampling on October 27 by the Division of Water Resources, which revealed turbidity levels far exceeding legal limits. Samples downstream of Horizon 30’s site showed turbidity levels too high for equipment to measure, compared to significantly lower levels upstream.
Environmental groups such as MountainTrue and the Center for Biological Diversity are also raising alarms, accusing Horizon 30 of failing to adequately remediate the quarry site. Jamie Whitlock, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, stated, “We do not think there’s been a proper reclamation of the site done.”
The environmental groups reported the presence of “an orange, discolored liquid with a filmy sheen” at the site, containing high levels of metals such as iron and manganese.
Amidst these concerns, Horizon 30 has yet to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, a requirement under the Clean Water Act for discharging pollutants into navigable waters.
Potential fines loom for Horizon 30, with penalties for violating the Mining Act reaching up to $5,000 per day. In December, the company received a $460,000 fine for operating without a permit, a penalty they are currently contesting.
