PCS Phosphate Mine
Project Would be the Single Largest Destruction of Wetlands in State History
EPA Abandons Wetlands and Fisheries 6-18-09
The Environmental Protection Agency last night backed away from its earlier finding that an 11,000 acre mine expansion by PCS Phosphate posed “unacceptable harm” to critical wetlands and fisheries in the nation’s second largest estuary, the Albemarle-Pamlico, according to environmental groups. After elevating the permit to the national level in a rare move, EPA could have vetoed the destruction of 1,200 acres of the most critical wetlands and nurseries while still allowing continued mining by the company for 29 years. Read more in the press release including links to related letters and documents.
Case Summary
The Albemarle-Pamlico Sound is one of the most productive North American fisheries, generating thousands of jobs and over $1 billion annually. Unfortunately, this valuable ecosystem has been put at risk by a phosphate mining operation in Beaufort County that would result in the largest single destruction of wetlands in North Carolina’s history, causing irreversible impacts to the region’s tourism and fishing future.
The Mining Operation
PCS Phosphate is seeking to mine 11,000 acres, including 4,000 acres of wetlands and about five miles of tidal creeks and streams bordering the Pamlico River. The planned destruction is so massive that PCS has asked the state for permission to relieve it of the legal obligation to offset its impacts by restoring natural buffers, and instead be held to less effective means of mitigation.
What’s at Stake
The area the company seeks to mine will permanently damage primary fishing habitat where both economically important commercial and recreational fish species spend all or part of their life cycle. Destroying these important fisheries will impact this region long after PCS has left the area, and there are no mitigation measures that can reverse this damage. This is to say nothing of the impacts the destruction of wetlands and tidal creeks will have on the region’s tourism and other important parts of the region’s economy.
SELC Takes Action
SELC is challenging a permit issued by the N.C. Division of Water Quality that illegally approves the largest destruction of wetlands in the state’s history by PCS Phosphate. The permit presumes the state will write new rules that accommodate the company’s ambitions.
PCS Phosphate Mine (NC): Background >>