NC0089168_Sound Rivers_Comments_20241114

11/21/24,3:32 PM Sound Rivers to host Blounts Creek press conference
SOUND RIVERNS ,
Gonft News
Sound Rivers to host press conference before Blounts Creek
public hearing
Action Alerts, Environmental, Sound Rivers, Tar-Pamlico Watershed, Water Quality_
Posted on November 14th, 2024
BLOUNTS (REEK
�E
y r:
� r e
Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman and Sound Rivers Executive Director Heather Deck will
join Forces with the Southern Environmental Law Center, East Carolina University's Water
Resources Center and Blounts Creek residents For a press conference next week.
The press conference will be held 5 p.m. before North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality's 6 p.m. public hearing regarding a mining company's application to renew a wastewater
permit that could allow up to 12 million gallons of freshwater per day to flow into the brackish
headwaters of Blounts Creek.
https:Hsoundrivers.org/sound-rivers-to-host-press-conference-before-blounts-creek-public-hearing/ 1/5

11/21/24,3:32 PM Sound Rivers to host Blounts Creek press conference
"We're going to try to get as many people to the public hearing as possible to speak up and share
their concerns about a permit that could potentially destroy Blounts Creek's entire ecosystem,"
Katey said.
Katey will lead off the press conference, followed by Heather to share the history of the Blounts
Creek issue. SELC Senior Attorney Blakely Hildebrand will discuss how the Sound Rivers' lawsuit
challenging the permit bounced around the North Carolina court system For more than a decade
before reaching its final outcome last year.
Read SELC's public comments about the Blounts Creek wastewater permit here.
ECU Water Resources Center Lab and Field Manager Bobby Bowser will then speak about the
Water Corps' role in baseline monitoring of the creek to determine environmental impact, while
Bob Daw, resident of Blounts Creek and co-founder of the grassroots Save Blounts Creek
movement, will wrap up the press conference.
"The public comment period actually doesn't end until the following day, so attending the public
hearing is a great opportunity to learn more about this issue, and get ideas from other speakers,
then follow up by writing an email to DEQ through our Action Alert," Katey said.
In addition to the press conference before the hearing, there will be two food trucks on site:
Buddy's Girl, serving up American staples such as burgers and hotdogs, and Mama Y Papa's
Taqueria, specializing in tacos.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Boyette Conference Center in
Building 10 on Beaufort County Community College's campus in Washington. Speaker registration
is required. A sign-up sheet will be available starting at 5 p.m.
The written comment period ends the Following day, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m.
Beaufort County Community College is located at 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC
27889.
Want to comment about Martin Marietta Materials' permit renewal application? Find out more
and write your letter to NCDEQ using our Action Alert!
Like the work your Riverkeepers are doing? So do we! Support their work by donating today!
https:Hsoundrivers.org/sound-rivers-to-host-press-conference-before-blounts-creek-public-hearing/ 2/5

11/21/24,3:32 PM Sound Rivers to host Blounts Creek press conference
Related News
Sound Rivers to host press conference before Blounts Creek public
hearing
November 14th 2024
Honors college wraps up trash trap adoption
November 14th 2024
Stormwater education takes off
November 14th 2024
Sound Rivers shares mission, programs at science festival
November 14th 2024
Fuel spill in Oriental Harbor sparks Coast Guard investigation
November 14th 2024
Specialist on the hunt for Smithfield pollution source
November 7th 2024
BLOUNTS CREEK
i k�;' r! .
rF.1,-
y
r/ • t r�a. � (I
Sound Rivers to host press -
i
conference before Blounts Creek .
public hearing T,
November 14th 2024
Honors college wraps up trash Stormwat
trap adoption November
November 14th 2024
https://soundrivers.org/sound-rivers-to-host-press-conference-before-blounts-creek-public-hearing/ 3/5

11/21/24,3:32 PM Sound Rivers to host Blounts Creek press conference
ALL NEWS
*kaz
SOUND
wRIVERS
New Bern Office 252.637.7972
Raleigh Office 919.856.1180
Washington Office 252.946.7211
Katey Zimmerman I Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper [e-mail]
Samantha Krop I Neuse Riverkeeper [e-mail]
Get Involved
Volunteer
eNews Sign-up
Report A Problem
Follow Us
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
https:Hsoundrivers.org/sound-rivers-to-host-press-conference-before-blounts-creek-public-hearing/ 4/5

11/21/24,3:32 PM Sound Rivers to host Blounts Creek press conference
kl&JA IVI IVII
© 2024 Sound Rivers.All Rights Reserved
Site Created by Top Shelf Design
https:Hsoundrivers.org/sound-rivers-to-host-press-conference-before-blounts-creek-public-hearing/ 5/5