Prospect Hill Quarry and Distribution site

Hot mix asphalt and truck mix concrete batch plant

Status

  • In January 2021, the Caswell County Planning Department processed and approved four permits for the company’s proposed projects – two for the Burlington North (Anderson) site and two for the Prospect Hill Quarry and Distribution Center (Quarry) site. They are Watershed Protection Permits and Special Non-residential Intensity Allocation (SNIA) Permits.
  • In February 2021, many residents and landowners affected by the permit decision filed an appeal with the county planning department in accordance with local ordinance.
  • In May 2021, the company sued 55 of the permit appellants in Superior Court to settle the question of vested rights in court. The company later added three additional defendants to the lawsuit. See the NC Policy Watch article by Lisa Sorg “Tired of fighting opponents of a proposed mine and asphalt plants, Carolina Sunrock decides to sue“
  • In March 2022, the Superior Court judge dismissed the lawsuit against the 3 defendants that were added. See the NC Policy Watch article by Lisa Sorg “Caswell County judge dismisses mining company lawsuit against residents, citing free speech“
  • The appeal hearing of the local permits has been postponed by the county multiple times and will probably continued to be postponed until the outcome of the Superior Court case.
  • No trial court date has been set for the lawsuit in Superior Court
  • NC DEQ/DMLR issued a mining permit to the company on 12/13/2021. An appeal has been filed with the NC Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
  • NC DEQ/DAQ issued the company an air quality permit for the Prospect Hill Quarry and Distribution Center on 10/19/2021.

Concerns

Concerns about this and the other 2 asphalt/concrete plant include pollution, fires, noise, smell, roads, traffic, wells, agriculture, wildlife, environment, zoning, enjoyment of one’s property, etc.. For a more complete list see Asphalt/concrete plant concerns.

Description

Plans are for an asphalt plant and a truck mix concrete batch plant to be located at the quarry site (1238 Wrenn Rd) and consist of the following:

Asphalt Plant

  • a propane/natural gas/fuel oil-fired drum type hot mix asphalt plant (HMA). The plant will have a capacity of 250 tons of asphalt per hour (2,190,000 tons per year). The particulate matter will be controlled by a bagfilter.
  • two (2) hot mix asphalt storage silos (150 tons maximum capacity each)
  • three (3) hot mix asphalt storage silos (200 tons maximum capacity each)
  • asphalt loadout operation
  • truck loadout operation
  • a reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) crushing system consisting of:
    • a crusher (65 tph)
    • bin and feeder
    • a double deck screen
    • six conveyors
  • a mobile crusher (65 tph) with generator
  • 2 used oil storage tanks (20,000 gallon capacity each)
  • 2 liquid asphalt tanks (30,000 gallon capacity each)
  • 2 diesel fuel storage tanks (20,000 gallon capacity each)
  • propane storage tank (100,000 gallon capacity)
  • asphalt cement heater
  • liquid asphalt tank heater

Truck mix concrete batch plant

  • a cement silo (200 tons maximum capacity)
  • a fly ash silo (150 tons maximum capacity)
  • truck loadout point
  • cement/fly ash weight batcher (25 tons maximum capacity)
  • aggregate weight batcher (50 tons maximum capacity)

State Permits and Documentation

Air Quality Permit – An air permit is required. To keep pollutants under Clean Air Act limits, the company plans the following limits:

  • Limit asphalt production to 600,000 tons per year
  • Limit quarry operations to 4,745 hours per year and 5,694,000 tpy
  • Limit the large generators running only 2 of the 3 simultaneously and only for 17,520 hours per year

Caswell County Requirements

  • Flood Hazard Acknowledgement Form if either 100 year floodplain or floodway is located on the property
  • Floodplain Development Permit if located within a Regulatory Floodway or Non-encroachment
  • Land Development Form
  • Special Non-Residential Intensity Allocation (SNIA) Permit if development exceeds 12% built-upon area (UDO 10.8.3.5.)
  • Spill containment plan if storing toxic and hazardous materials (UDO section 10.8.3.3.)
  • Stormwater management plan, if applicable (UDO 10.8.3.5.5.2.)
  • Inventory of hazardous materials, if applicable (UDO 10.8.3.5.5.3.)
  • Watershed Protection Permit (UDO 10.8.11.) [approved but being appealed]
  • Site Plan (required by Watershed Protection Permit process) to include:
    • Stream buffer setbacks
    • Impervious surface area calculation
    • Setbacks
    • Undisturbed vegetation
    • Easements
    • Any proposed new structures
    • Other required features
  • Watershed Protection Occupancy Permit (UDO 10.8.13.)
  • Building Permit (UDO 10.8.12.)
  • Confirmation of an applicable NC DEQ permit
  • Confirmation of a NC DOT Driveway Permit
  • NC DEQ determination regarding origination of on-site ponds

UDO = Caswell County’s Unified Development Ordinance

Questions?

Questions and comments about the proposed asphalt and concrete plants can be sent to admin@protectcaswell.org.