NC0089168_SELC_Comments_20240911

SOUTHERN 601 West Rosemary Street,Suite 220 Telephone [phone]
ENVIRONMENTAL Chapel Hill,NC 27516 Facsimile 919-929-9421
LAW
CENTER
September 11, 2024
Via email
Derek Denard, Program Consultant
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
derek.denardkdeq.nc.gov
Re: Request for public hearing and 60-day extension of time to submit public
comments on draft NPDES Permit No. NCO089168 for Martin Marietta
Materials Vanceboro Quarry
Mr. Denard,
On behalf of Sound Rivers, the Southern Environmental Law Center("SELC") writes to request two
public hearings about the draft NPDES permit No. NCO089168 ("Draft Permit") for the Martin Marietta
Materials limestone quarry in Vanceboro,N.C. This permit has generated significant public interest,
over the last 15 years and was the subject of a decade-long court case. Just two weeks ago, over 50
community members participated in a meeting about the Draft Permit and upcoming public comment
deadline. SELC requests an in-person public hearing and a virtual public hearing to maximize
opportunities for the public to weigh in on the Draft Permit. Under state law, both hearings require 30
days' notice.z
Additionally, SELC writes to request a 60-day extension of the deadline for public comments for the
Draft Permit. The materials supporting the Draft Permit are technical in nature, span an almost 15-year
period, and will require significant time to review and respond.
Thank you for your attention to this request. Please contact me via email (bhildebrand&selcnc.org) or
phone [phone])with any questions or to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
Blakely E. Hildebrand
Senior Attorney
CC: Asher Spiller,N.C. Department of Justice
'See N.C.Gen. Stat. § 143-215.1 (allowing any member of the public to request a public hearing and granting the
Environmental Management Commission discretion to hold a hearing for permits that generate"significant public interest");
see also 15A N.C.Admin. Code 2H.0111.
'N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-215.1(c)(3).
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