June 28, 2007 issue
Carpenter Ordered to Make Substantial Changes to Quarry Proposal
Story by Ron Fitzwater
Randy Carpenter owner-operator of RC Landholdings who is applying to construct a 161-acre rock quarry in Avery County, was notified by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in a certified letter on June 18, that several issues must be resolved by him in order for his application to be considered for processing.
Modifications to the application follow the list of concerns presented by the Unincorporated Citizens’ Association to Protect Wildcat Cliffs, at the public hearing conducted by the North Carolina Division of Land Resources, on Tuesday May 2.
Among other points outlined by DENR, Carpenter is ordered to provide details as to how his company will screen the operation from the view of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and prove that the quarry will not affect or be visible from Riverside Park, Cane Creek Park and the Overmountain Victory National History Trail in Avery County.
At the May 2 hearing, Jody Lovelace addressed the aesthetic and tourism industry damage that will result if the application is approved. “The location is in public view and will present itself as a very bold eyesore, not only from the Parkway but also from the Victory Trail. There are at this time two Parkway overlooks and vistas that offer direct views of the proposed quarry from the Parkway, he said.
Additional items that Carpenter must address to satisfy DENR include;
• Provide a well survey in a 1500 foot radius of the quarry.
• Provide a detailed blasting study to show the effects on neighboring homes, including predicted airblast and ground vibrations.
• Increase the buffers along all waterways to a minimum of 50 foot undisturbed buffer and along the permit boundary and adjoining property lines to 100 foot undisturbed buffer.
• Revise the mine map to include the access road in the permit boundary to its intersection with a state maintained road and adjust the affected acreage chat to reflect the changes.
• Show the ten-year pit limits on the map.
• Provide supporting calculations for all basins, which must be designed to pass a 25 year 24 hour storm event and have a minimum 1800 cubic feet of sediment storage.
• Provide a detail and construction sequence for boulder walls with supporting calculations showing that fill areas will be stable.
• Provide a detailed erosion and sediment control maintenance schedule.
• Adjust the affected acreage chart to reflect access to the sediment basins.
• Provide enlargements to all stream crossings with details of culverts, associated erosion and sediment control measures and devices.
• Provide information that the company has right of access through the property of Ted and Paula Johnson.
• Enlarge culvert apron lengths to required lengths.
• Provide construction sequence for all fill areas including placement of material and stabilization of the fill prior to moving on to the next phase.
• Provide adequate sediment and erosion control measures and devices for fresh water pond construction.
The citizens’ association was very pleased by the requirements put on Carpenter. Jason Warner of the citizens’ association said, “We would have loved a total denial [of the application], but this is a good step. We are very pleased with the fact that the points we made during the hearing appear to be the basis of the items Mr. Carpenter must address.”
Warner said there was not much else the association can do for right now except wait to see how Carpenter responds.
Warner said that most of their efforts for the time being are going to be focused on assisting and supporting the Avery County Board of Commissioners as they work on creating ordinances to regulate high-impact development in the county. “We support the commissioners in their efforts, and understand that it is a complicated process. We want to be any help we can be to them.”
Carpenter now has 180 days to respond and submit all of the requested information requested by DENR. He does have the right to request an extension to the time limit however, the extension is not automatic. DENR can deny the request if the information accompanying it are not sufficient to warrant additional time. If an extension request is denied, DENR will render a decision at the end of the 180 day period.
Attempts to contact Carpenter before publication were unsuccessful.
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