20111013 Ver 1_Public Comments_20120103 (2)

Kathryn Nichols
George Perkins
759 Island Drive
Chocowinity North Carolina 27817
December 28 2011
Mr Ian McMillan
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh North Carolina 27699 1650
Reference US Army Corps Of Engineers Action ID # SAW 2011 02235
Dear Mr McMillan
•
RIE&ROW[RI
JAN 3 2oiz
DENR WATER QUALITY
WETLANDS AND STORMWATER BRANCH
We are writing to oppose the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issuance of a Section
401 Water Quality Certification to Martin Marietta Materials Inc associated with the development of a
649 acre open pit aggregate mine on the Craven Beaufort County border North Carolina
We have reviewed the public notice posted by the U S Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and have
serious concerns on the environmental impact of this mine on Blounts Creek In particular we re
concerned about the 9 million gallons per day or 3 2 BILLION gallons per year of fresh water being
discharged into Blounts Creek for the next 50 years
It only makes sense that the continual discharge of that amount of fresh water will dramatically change
the salinity of Blounts Creek and other tributaries Although we have recently moved to this area we are
well aware of how sensitive estuarine wetlands are to changes We lived in an wetlands environmental
area of concern for many years and no changes were made to that area that would impact the wetlands So
it is amazing to us that this open pit mine requires the destruction of wetlands and the dumping of fresh
water into saltwater estuary
This activity will surely damage the environment that many fish and birds in particular the American
Eagle depend upon for their survival
Any help that you could provide in this matter would be appreciated
Sc
Kathryn Nichols
George Perkins