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Permit renewal will allow million gallons of wastewater daily to be discharged into Blounts Creek

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published February 25, 2025 at 6:40 AM EST
File: Blounts Creek is pictured early morning during fall.
Sound Rivers
File: Blounts Creek is pictured early morning during fall.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has approved the renewal of the permit for discharging 12.1 million gallons of wastewater per day from Martin Marietta Materials‘ Vanceboro Quarry.

Beginning April 1, the new permit will regulate mine dewatering and stormwater from the mine to unnamed tributaries of Blounts Creek, a nutrient sensitive waterbody in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin.

The permit includes a requirement to monitor water quality twice per month and for biological integrity every two years.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston