The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources has denied a mining permit application submitted by Horizon 30 LLC. The decision follows the requirements set out in the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971.
A Watauga Superior Court judge determined on August 13, 2025, that Horizon 30 was conducting mining operations without proper authorization. The court issued a preliminary injunction directing the company to halt all mining activities immediately and to begin reclamation efforts at the site.
According to the Division, before this legal action, Horizon 30 was operating without a valid permit on an area covering about 50 acres. The actual excavation affected roughly 23 acres. Staff from the Division are continuing to monitor reclamation work to ensure that Horizon 30 fulfills its obligations and brings the site into compliance with state regulations.
The denial of Horizon 30’s permit application was made under N.C.G.S. § 74-51(d)(7), following the court’s findings regarding unpermitted activity. Additional information about Horizon 30’s application process, related documentation from the Division, details about a public hearing held in July, and further information on the permit denial are available on the DEQ website (https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases).
