20111013 Ver 2_Public Notice Comments_20130318 (37)

Strickland, Bev
From: Karoly, Cyndi
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 1:10 PM
To: Strickland, Bev
Subject: FW: Martin Marietta Materials permit hearing
From: Warren Tripp [mailto:warren.tripp(a amail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:18 PM
To: Adams, Amy; Belnick, Tom; Karoly, Cyndi; Mitchell.michael(a)epa.aov
Subject: Martin Marietta Materials permit hearing
To the above officials:
I recently spoke at the public hearing for the permit application of Martin Marietta Materials' planned
Vanceboro aggregate mine. I am a long time property owner in the area and have substantial career experience
in the quarry mining and public utility industries. Below are my comments.
Please consider the potential negative impact this project will have to both our environment and local economy.
We need a better solution for the use and disposal of the water that is planning to be pumped from the quarry
site. Action that you take can be a benefit for both our community and our ecology. Thank you.
Warren Tripp
955 Down Shore Road
Blounts Creek, NC 27814
Comments delivered at the Beaufort County hearing:
Long ago, the Lord gave man dominion over the land and the animals, but it came with an expectation of good
stewardship. We know that our waters and aquifers are a precious resource to be protected and used wisely.
These waters should not be discarded and wasted when there are viable alternatives.
The essence of the question at hand is -- Should we remove the natural water table that feeds and supports a
broad area of land and habitat, and dispose of that water through a narrow existing creek system? In doing so,
we will starve many square miles of surrounding area and force feed a stream bed of relatively narrow width. It
will be like drinking through a fire hose rather than a natural fountain. Damage will be done.
An August 12, 2012 article in the Wilmington News Star spoke about the disappearing wetlands in the New
Hanover area as a result of the pubic utility pumping 3 -4 million gallons per day -- about 1/2 of what is
proposed for the Martin Marietta Materials quarry. The effects were ponds and streams drying up, house
foundations settling, fish breeding habitat lost, nesting grounds for migrating birds gone, and wells running dry.
Other quarry examples from West Virginia and Pennsylvania have demonstrated the changes and impact to be
expected in terms of PH, turbidity, nutrient content, temperature drops and unfitness for use that destroy both
plant, fish and wildlife habitat. Here in Beaufort County, we additionally have the risk of salinity invasion into
our aquifers as the pressure in them is reduced.

Beaufort County has experience with the impacts of pumping down the underground water and we know the
waste that is already occurring as an economic tradeoff Quarry mines almost always result in massive fresh
water pumping like that stipulated in the Martin Marietta Materials permit. The question is where is it going to
go? Most of the Potash Corp (PCS) excess goes directly into the river at a wide and voluminous point. Still,
that pumping discharge has had a major impact on regional sea life, aquatic plant life, and the migration of fish,
crabs and shrimp. Additionally, that water is being discharged where the county population is small and not
expected to grow.
The Martin Marietta Materials project will impact many square miles of existing wetlands habitat, affect the
growing population and important tax base around Blounts Creek, disrupt one of the finest fishing attractions in
our area, and threaten the very core elements of lifestyle for nearby communities like Cypress Landing, Bath,
Chocowinity and even Washington. Why permit such a dangerous project without a sound plan for the excess
water? -- for the 10 -15 jobs that it might create? -- for the small amount of corporate tax revenue that might be
generated?
The high risk and low rewards indicate that this project, as it is now conceived, is a bad investment for Beaufort
County. Let's not be a poor steward of our natural resources. Let's find a better solution!
N