Phosphate Mine Expansion On the Pamlico River

On March 12, 2009, SELC filed a legal challenge of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality’s decision to allow PCS Phosphate to expand its strip mine through wetlands, streams, and tidal creeks on the Pamlico River. Issued in January 2009, the state’s approval of the project violates the Clean Water Act by allowing severe degradation of water quality and aquatic habitat and by failing to require adequate mitigation of the mine’s impacts. The state’s decision also sets a dangerous precedent that puts other North Carolina river basins in jeopardy.