In the resilient community of Poplar, Western North Carolina, residents have faced a grueling year, juggling the aftermath of Hurricane Helene with the persistent intrusion of an alleged illegal mining operation, a situation that has deeply impacted their lives and environment.
Angry members of this community recently journeyed to Boone, North Carolina, for a pivotal court decision concerning the mining activities at Carter Quarry. The company at the center of this controversy, Horizon 30, LLC, faced the prospect of a complete shutdown or the imposition of severe civil or criminal penalties. This legal confrontation underscored the deep anxieties felt by those who felt their pleas had long gone unheard, highlighting a pervasive sense of vulnerability in the face of unauthorized industrial activity.
1.A pivotal moment arrived on Friday when the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) officially declared that the mining activities at Carter Quarry in Mitchell County were completely unauthorized, directly confirming the community’s claims of illegal operations and environmental damage.
Building on the NCDOL’s findings, the North Carolina Justice Department swiftly pursued a criminal injunction against Horizon 30, LLC, determined to halt operations along the Nolichucky River despite the company’s continued defiance after receiving multiple warnings about lacking necessary permits.
2.Striking drone images recently shared by resident Leo Sharp vividly showcased the extensive scale of the mining operation that began in Poplar after Hurricane Helene, providing undeniable visual evidence of ongoing industrial activity in a community still recovering from the hurricane’s devastation.
The state’s intervention began when the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration requested miner safety training at the site, leading a state Labor Department official to notice ‘multiple irregularities’ and question the site’s environmental permit status, a discovery that initiated the enforcement actions when Horizon 30, LLC couldn’t produce the required documents.
3.Labor Commissioner Luke Farley praised his staff’s vigilance, emphasizing the critical role of their ‘experience, judgment, and vigilance’ in enforcing laws and ensuring safety, noting that without their dedication, the illegal operation might have continued unnoticed, risking lives and eroding public trust.
Beyond the regulatory issues, community members like Army veteran Cody Johnson expressed outrage, accusing Horizon 30, LLC of exploiting ’emergency protocols’ intended for vital railroad repairs damaged by the hurricane, highlighting a deep sense of betrayal felt by locals.
“Get out of North Carolina. We don’t want you here,” Johnson declared, his message unequivocally addressed to Horizon 30, LLC. He elaborated on his accusation, stating, “You came in under the guise of emergency protocols, trying to fool people – unethical.” This powerful denunciation underscored the moral outrage prevalent within the community, painting a picture of a company capitalizing on vulnerability rather than genuinely contributing to recovery efforts.
4.Records reveal that Horizon 30, LLC, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, attempted to justify its operations in a May letter to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), citing ’emergency permits, authorizations, waivers and other applicable allowances for services in support of the Emergency Railway Repairs’ amidst delays in their official permitting process.
Chipman’s letter further invoked broader national initiatives, including those “in support of the America First initiative and energy independence, as well as prior and concurrent emergency response directives.” He maintained that the mining application was prepared “in conjunction with some of the leading professionals in the mining industry” and that the Army Corps of Engineers had conducted a review. Chipman also stated that the company had taken “corrective measures” to meet departmental requirements and “wishes to continue to have a good and productive relationship with your Department and the State.” However, attempts to reach Horizon 30, LLC for further comment on these claims were unsuccessful.
5.Contrasting the company’s narrative, residents reported that Horizon 30, LLC had not hired local workers, a significant point of contention given the post-hurricane economic hardships, with license plates from states like Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, and Arizona further emphasizing the company’s perceived detachment from the affected community.
The ecological impact has also been severe, with Cody Johnson reporting the disturbing discovery of dead birds and wildlife near his property since the mining operation began, serving as a grim testament to the environmental damage occurring in their immediate vicinity and reinforcing the urgent need for the operation to cease.
6.Tessa Sharp, another local resident, shared a particularly poignant and heartbreaking account of the direct impact on her family. She and her husband, Leo Sharp, who is a Navy veteran, witnessed the tragic deaths of 13 of their 14 rabbits, which they attributed to respiratory issues caused by the persistent dust. “It’s tragic,” Tessa said, her voice conveying the profound grief of losing cherished animals to the environmental fallout.
The Sharp family’s struggle was compounded by the fact that their home had sustained significant flooding damage from Hurricane Helene. They had endured living in tents and with relatives for ten months following the storm, a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity. Leo Sharp articulated the profound frustration of dealing with the illegal mining crisis while still grappling with the monumental task of rebuilding their lives. “This is a hurting community, and we didn’t expect to face more issues during construction,” he remarked, underscoring the added burden placed upon an already beleaguered population.
