20240319_DWR_Groundwater_Report

Complaint from Martha Benton regarding Ashton Farms Sand Mine,Ash, NC(Brunswick Co)
Site Visit Report by Mark Durway, NC DEQ DWR Groundwater Management Branch, 3/19/24
At approximately 11:30 am on 3/15/24, 1 met with Martha Benton of 2714 Longwood Rd NW concerning
her complaint about Ashton Farms Sand Mine (DEMLR Permit 10-A04). Ms. Benton lives immediately
south of the mine at the southeast corner of the Longwood Rd-Wild Wing Dr NW intersection and her
property includes another home where her granddaughter lives. Ms. Benton's complaint was that the
mine had lowered water in her pond about one foot, caused an oil sheen to occur, and had caused sand
to appear in the well and shower water at her granddaughter's home. Ms. Benton herself had a well
which she no longer uses following connection to county water. My understanding was she connected
out of necessity following opening of the Ashton Farms mine. I requested any documentation she could
provide regarding the wells, when and how much it cost to connect to county water, etc.
Based on visual inspection of the pond, I could see no oily sheen or evidence of dead vegetation from oil.
I also saw no evidence of a drop in water level, but this may be because the water level had risen
following recent rain. I understood Ms. Benton to say the pond level only dropped when the mine was
pumping and said the oil sheen was only present when the water level dropped. Her granddaughter was
at work, so I was only able to visually inspect the granddaughter's well, which Ms. Benton showed me in
the well house outside the granddaughter's home. Ms. Benton believed each well was no less than 65 ft
deep, however, I was unable to measure the well depth and so no well tag on either well. Photos of the
wells, pond, etc. were made with Ms. Benton's permission during the site visit. Based on aerial imagery,
the approximate distance from the south end of Ashton Farms mine to the two wells at the Benton
property is about 500 ft.
At approximately 12:30 pm on 3/15/24, 1 met with Wade Merritt and Ashley McLamb at Ashton Farms
Sand Mine. I explained we had received the complaint described above regarding the Benton property.
They explained the mine setup, showed me the dewatering pump, settling basin, and discharge location
and said it had been so dry they hadn't pumped water from the mine in three weeks. Desiccation cracks
in mud in the settling basin and the dry ditch at the discharge point suggested no recent discharge of
water had occurred.
I told Mr. Merritt and Mr. McLamb our records indicate they had not registered water withdrawals with
the state WWATR program, based on information from John Barr, and that their stormwater discharge
permit was pending approval, based on Austin Turbitt's DEMLR complaint letter dated 2/16/24. They
indicated they were not aware of either issue and believed they were in compliance with all
requirements since receiving their mining permit (issued 8/26/22). 1 suggested they follow up and
resolve these issues immediately which they said they would do.
Please contact me with questions or comments at 919-924-6400 or [e-mail].