Questions and Answers about
Martin Marietta Aggregates'
Proposed Brunswick F acility
.Martin Marietta Aggregates is proposing to develop a limestone quarry
on about 1 ,000 acres of land in the vicinity of the intersection of N.C. 133,
N.C. <V7 and Sunny Point Road. The facility would include limestone mining
operations and facilities for processing raw materials for shipment. Over the
past several weeks, a number of questions have been publicly raised about
how such a facility might affect the citizens of Brunswick County.
Will I be able to hear the operations at the facility?
While there is certainly some level of sound associated with any
industrial facility, levels at our proposed Brunswick facility must stay
within specific levels at the boundaries of the site as mandated by the
State of North Carolina. In addition, Brunswick County requires a
buffer zone around all industrial sites to help muffle sound. 1'his
buffer area of trees and plants will significantly reduce the sound
levels from the facility.
Isn't this kind of facility very dusty ? Won't there be
constant dust in the air and on our highways from
hauling the limestone?
Limestone, especially from the coastal area, tends to be damp
when it is removed from the ground which helps reduce dust
significantly. While some dust may be raised in the crushing
operation, it is kept to a minimum by a dust control system required
by the State to protect the environment and our employees who work
in the area. In addition, once trucks are loaded, they may drive
through a water spraying system which dampens the limestone
product even more and prevents dust from flying off the trucks in
route.
What about blasting? How loud will it be? How often?
And what about blasting effects on the Bethel Church
neighborhood, CP&L's Brunswick nuclear power plant
and the Sunny Point terminal?
Blasting is necessary at the site to remove the limestone for
further processing. On average, there will be no more than two blasts
per week. On most days, there may be no blasting at all and never at
night or on Sundays. Our nearest neighbors would hear little more
than they would if they slammed a door and feel little more than if
their children ran across the room.
Our experience with blasting indicates there would be no effects
from our blasting either on the Brunswick nuclear plant or the Sunny
Point terminal. We nevertheless conducted a thorough study to be
certain there would be no effect. The results of that study were
shared with officials from the power plant. Their experts have
indicated that they sec no blasting effects on their operations. Our
understanding is that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will
likewise review this information to ensure that there will he no impact
on the plant.
I'm on well water. Gould the quarry operation affect
my well and if it does, what will Martin Marietta do
about it?
Operations will require us to excavate 80 to 90 feet. At that
depth, water in the excavation must be removed. We estimate that it
could be as much as 10 million gallons of water per day.
We are planning to pipe this clean groundwater to the Cape Fear
River. This water is not contaminated or used in our process in any
way. Our discharge will be under permit from the State of North
Carolina which will test and monitor it on a regular basis.
It is possible that our operations may affect a few nearby wells,
especially older, shallow-water wells less than 40 feet deep that may
have only three to four feet of water at the bottom. Martin Marietta
will, at its cost, either replace the affected well with a deeper one or
connect the resident to the county water system.
What happens to the water used hv Martin Marietta in
the operation? Will that water also he discharged to the
Gape Fear River?
Absolutely not. All water used in our processes is recycled on site
and reused. None of this water is discharged into the Cape Fear River
or off site.
What effect will the facility have on traffic, particularly
the number of trucks on our local highways?
The limestone processed at the Brunswick facility will be
transported on trucks. For the first two to three years the quarry is in
operation, there will be about 35 to 40 trucks a day through the
facility. As our operation expands, that number of trucks will also
increase.
We arc working with local authorities to select the best haul
routes to handle our truck traffic. The increased truck traffic amounts
to less than two percent of current levels. One part of the solution is a
specific entrance/exit to the site off N.C. 133, well away from the
intersection of N.C. 133 and N.C. 87. Another part of the solution is
turn lanes added to N.C. 133 near the entrance to the facility. A third
part of the solution may he adding traffic signals at the intersection
and/or changing the intersection itself. We will continue to work with
county officials to find and implement the best ways of keeping our
highways safe for everyone.
How will Martin Marietta effect our local economy?
Our facility will have a positive effect of the economy of
Brunswick County. In the first 10 years of operation, we will invest
close to $10 million in the plant, including construction of buildings
and purchase of equipment. In the first years of operation, we will pay
approximately $23,800 each year in Brunswick County taxes and
$1,400 to Dosher Hospital. In later years, we will be paying
approximately $68,000 per year in county taxes and nearly $4,000 to
Dosher Hospital. About 25 to 30 new jobs will be created, with a
payroll of approximately $600,000 a year. We expect to spend another
$500,000 each year on local goods and services. And we anticipate
that as many as 75 new jobs will be created locally as a result of our
operations in the community.
If Martin Marietta doesn't locate on this site, how else
could the property be used?
The proposed site is zoned "Heavy Industrial" and so just about
any type of business that meets the requirements of this category
could locate on some of the property. However, because of restrictions
on land use caused by the location of the Sunny Point facility,
construction of any buildings or structures is prohibited on nearly one
half of the 1,000 acre site. This property contains a deposit of
limestone unique in its location and of the highest quality. We think
that our Brunswick facility is the best use of the restricted property,
one that benefits local citizens and the county as a whole.