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PCS Phosphate persistent on permits
By DAN PARSONS, Staff Writer
After a myriad of public hearings, presentations and editorials, it is yet to be determined whether or not PCS Phosphate will be issued permits to mine its preferred-expansion area along South Creek near Aurora.
The period for public comment on a potentially decisive environmental-impact statement published by the Army Corps of Engineers, the final permitting authority, ends Jan. 27. After that date, public comments will be weighed and a final statement will be released.
PCS applied for Department of the Army authorization to continue its mining on the Hickory Point peninsula adjacent to the Pamlico River and South Creek in Nov. 2000. Because the “applicant-preferred” site will affect 2,408 acres of wetlands, the Corps was required to conduct an environmental-impact study. The findings in that study were published in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in October, outlining the possible effects to the ecology of the Pamlico River and its tributaries in the area PCS would prefer to mine.
The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, having been at the forefront in the permitting process since 2000, held a public forum to voice its concerns about expanding the mine at the First United Methodist Church Dec. 7. Riverkeeper Heather Jacobs began her presentation by explaining that her organization’s sole purpose was to “protect the future of Aurora, Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina while allowing PCS to continue mining profitably. We like to think of ourselves as the voice of the river.”
Though hosted by the Corps, supporters of the mine’s preferred expansion plan overwhelmingly dominated a public hearing Dec. 14 at Southside High School in Chocowinity. Though given only two minutes each, enough speakers voiced their opinions to cause the meeting to last for more than four hours.
PTRF’s primary concern is the loss of wetlands and the services they perform to the river and those that call its waters and banks home.
“If PCS is given the applicant-preferred mining permit, it would mean the loss of flood storage equal to the amount of water that flows from Greenville in the Tar River in three days, 5,500 million gallons, “ Jacobs explained during the forum.
PCS spokesmen have consistently countered PTRF’s claims, pointing to the company’s mitigation and reclamation efforts. These restoration activities attempt to offset the environmental impact of its mining operations.
As land is being mined, it is constantly being back-filled with the earth removed to uncover the phosphate ore, said Ross Smith, evironmental-affairs manager for PCS. Once refilled, these areas become reclamation zones which are replanted and brought back to their natural wetland states, Smith said. There are eight areas in various stages of reclamation within the mine complex. The company has reclaimed 84 acres it began mining in 1993 along the upper portion of Whitehurst Creek, Smith said. Reclamation takes between 12 and 15 years to complete, he said.
Mitigation is independent of the mining process. PCS purchased 2,000 acres of farmland and — without mining it — used it for a mitigation project, according to a mass-mailed brochure explaining the mine’s stewardship activities.
“We want the public to see that these restoration projects are not only possible, but are a reality,” Smith said in an early-December interview. “We take very seriously the stewardship of the resources we have.”
Opposition to permitting PCS to mine its preferred site continues as those against it ask for serious consideration of alternative sites.
“When this mine closes, as all mines eventually do, what will eastern North Carolina be left with?” asked Jacobs.
The period for public comment on a potentially decisive environmental-impact statement published by the Army Corps of Engineers, the final permitting authority, ends Jan. 27. After that date, public comments will be weighed and a final statement will be released.
PCS applied for Department of the Army authorization to continue its mining on the Hickory Point peninsula adjacent to the Pamlico River and South Creek in Nov. 2000. Because the “applicant-preferred” site will affect 2,408 acres of wetlands, the Corps was required to conduct an environmental-impact study. The findings in that study were published in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in October, outlining the possible effects to the ecology of the Pamlico River and its tributaries in the area PCS would prefer to mine.
The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, having been at the forefront in the permitting process since 2000, held a public forum to voice its concerns about expanding the mine at the First United Methodist Church Dec. 7. Riverkeeper Heather Jacobs began her presentation by explaining that her organization’s sole purpose was to “protect the future of Aurora, Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina while allowing PCS to continue mining profitably. We like to think of ourselves as the voice of the river.”
Though hosted by the Corps, supporters of the mine’s preferred expansion plan overwhelmingly dominated a public hearing Dec. 14 at Southside High School in Chocowinity. Though given only two minutes each, enough speakers voiced their opinions to cause the meeting to last for more than four hours.
PTRF’s primary concern is the loss of wetlands and the services they perform to the river and those that call its waters and banks home.
“If PCS is given the applicant-preferred mining permit, it would mean the loss of flood storage equal to the amount of water that flows from Greenville in the Tar River in three days, 5,500 million gallons, “ Jacobs explained during the forum.
PCS spokesmen have consistently countered PTRF’s claims, pointing to the company’s mitigation and reclamation efforts. These restoration activities attempt to offset the environmental impact of its mining operations.
As land is being mined, it is constantly being back-filled with the earth removed to uncover the phosphate ore, said Ross Smith, evironmental-affairs manager for PCS. Once refilled, these areas become reclamation zones which are replanted and brought back to their natural wetland states, Smith said. There are eight areas in various stages of reclamation within the mine complex. The company has reclaimed 84 acres it began mining in 1993 along the upper portion of Whitehurst Creek, Smith said. Reclamation takes between 12 and 15 years to complete, he said.
Mitigation is independent of the mining process. PCS purchased 2,000 acres of farmland and — without mining it — used it for a mitigation project, according to a mass-mailed brochure explaining the mine’s stewardship activities.
“We want the public to see that these restoration projects are not only possible, but are a reality,” Smith said in an early-December interview. “We take very seriously the stewardship of the resources we have.”
Opposition to permitting PCS to mine its preferred site continues as those against it ask for serious consideration of alternative sites.
“When this mine closes, as all mines eventually do, what will eastern North Carolina be left with?” asked Jacobs.
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