20110309 Ver 4_Email to DEMLR re mining impacts on water resources_20180705

Wojoski, Paul A
From: Wojoski, Paul A
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2018 2:58 PM
To: Wehner, Judy
Subject: Martin Marietta's Onslow Quarry Expansion (DWR# 20110309 V4)
Hi Judy—
It was nice to meet you today. I just wanted to follow up our conversation about the Martin Marietta Onslow Quarry
Expansion. As you know they are expanding their pit to the north and are impacting a stream feature causing a loss,
therefore I am reviewing the project for 401 compliance. I had one main issue I wanted to bring to your attention:
Martin Marietta is also permitted to expand to the west of the active pit. There is a high quality stream feature and
fringing wetlands between the active pit and the pit just beginning to be mined to the west. There is a road crossing over
this stream. The concern is that overall footprint of the mine could lower the groundwater enough OR impact the
watershed so that the wetlands and stream of that western feature are degraded or destroyed. The plans show mining
on both sides of the wetlands/tributary, essentially leaving it "on a hill" for thousands of feet, hence the cause for
concern. Martin Marietta also pointed out in their application that expanding through the northern tributary is a
preferred alternative to impacting the western tributary as it's higher quality so I wanted to ensure their currently
permitted activity won't degrade it anyway.
I will say that it appears the stream is fed by smaller tributaries up stream (to the south) and has a relatively large
drainage basin, therefore it's possible that there will be no impacts to stream and wetland as these will keep feeding the
stream, but impacts to this tributary should be considered and possibly monitored to ensure the hydrologic integrity is
maintained.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or wanted to discuss further. I appreciate your time today.
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Wojoski
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
Division of Water Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
[phone] office
Paul. W oioski(d)ncdenr.gov
512 N. Salisbury Street (Archdale Building), Suite 942-F, Raleigh, NC 27604
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
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