Umstead Coalition supporters deliver victory years after mining started
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- In a Wednesday morning ruling, the supporters of the Umstead Coalition received much-welcomed news from the superior court.
Judge Sean Cole, in his ruling, sided with the coalition after years of the group's advocacy efforts to prevent Wake Stone, now Vulcan Materials, from expanding mining operations near Umstead State Park.
In his ruling, Judge Cole ordered the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to halt mining operations by 2031, in alignment with the original sunset clause agreement that was originally agreed to in 1981.
At the time, Wake Stone asked for permission to mine the land near Umstead State Park for a total of 50 years. However, years ago, NCDEQ and Wake Stone partnered to further expand mining operations through a continuation of mining activity and broadening its footprint.
A move the Umstead Coalition was not in favor of, as if successful, work on the quarry would have exceeded beyond its original 2031 agreement.
In his ruling, Judge Cole concluded, "The Coalition, as the sole 'friends' group for the Park and as a membership-based nonprofit representing Park users, necessarily is substantially prejudiced by the indefinite delay for the State, on behalf of the Division of State Parks, to exercise its option to acquire the original quarry property."
As part of the ruling, Judge Cole said Wake Stone and NCDEQ must abide by its original agreement by ordering the donation of the quarry land back to the State of North Carolina for inclusion in its State Parks, effectively donating the land back to Umstead State Park.
ABC11 has reached out to the NCDEQ and Vulcan Materials for comment and both have yet to respond.
