Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Poplar, NC (WNN) - An illegal mining operation was discovered and shut down in Poplar, North Carolina. Horizon 30 LLC began its mining activities off NC 197 along the banks of the Nolichucky River in Mitchell County several weeks after Hurricane Helene caused massive destruction in Western, NC. It appears the Allentown, PA-based company used the recovery process to hide its activities. When initially questioned about the quarry they had created, the company stated they were doing an emergency gravel excavation to make repairs for the CSX railroad. Confusion and backlogs during the recovery process helped to prolong the discovery and rectification of the truth.
In late December 2024, residents began complaining of thick dust and explosions from a recently opened quarry. They were concerned with increased wildlife, especially bears, appearing on their properties. Their biggest complaints concerned the blasting going on into late-night and early-morning hours, along with the thick dust covering everything. There was also an increase in pollution along the once pristine riverbanks. During this same time, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requested the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) to provide mine safety training classes for the Horizon 30 site. This is when irregularities began to surface. An experienced NCDOL official quickly observed many irregular things. Among his questions to Horizon 30 LLC officials was whether they possessed the required state environmental permits. The company responded that they were mining materials for emergency repair work for CSX Railroad's Blue Ridge Subdivision Railroad Service Lines. This claim would prove to be false. They were not registered for the railroad's emergency work, nor had CSX hired them for any job. It was also discovered that they lacked the required environmental permits from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). They could not produce any legitimate documentation. NCDOL alerted the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The NCDEQ confirmed the operation was unauthorized and violated several state mining laws.
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"If our staff hadn't gone above and beyond their duty to protect workers, this illegal operation could have continued unnoticed, putting lives at risk and undermining public trust in our regulatory system. Thanks to the quick action of our team, the site has been exposed and will be held accountable." |
Reported Labor Commissioner Luke Farley on Friday, August 8, 2025.
After the initial claim for working with the railroad restoration was exposed as false, they were notified by the NCDEQ to cease operations. Yet, they continued to operate for several more months. They ignored several warnings. Once the state confirmed that no such emergency authorizations had been granted, Horizon 30 submitted a partial application without the required fees. Residents' social media outrage urged anyone with photos or video of the continuing mining to send them to NCDEQ, NCDOJ, or the attorney general's office. Private drone footage was recorded and submitted as evidence. Since Horizon 30 kept working despite several notices to cease, a court hearing was scheduled.
On August 11, 2025, a hearing was held in Watauga County Superior Court in Boone, NC. Horizon 30 LLC was officially deemed operating illegally by Superior Court Judge Ted McEntire. The injunction puts a stop to all mining operations at the site. If this injunction is not followed, Horizon 30 LLC will face civil and criminal contempt charges. The company must also cover the ground that has been left bare, remove materials, and submit a reclamation plan within 30 days to the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources. The court order provides a critical 30-day community action and legal defense window.
In a press release, NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said, "Horizon 30 has repeatedly disregarded state law and refused to work with DEQ to come into compliance with the Mining Act of 1971. This ruling is a win for the residents of NC and our air, water, and land. We will continue to work with the DOJ to hold the company responsible for its violations and its continuing obligations under NC environmental laws."
Despite some erroneous claims on social media, the DEQ stated that as of 8-22-25, all Horizon 30 mining operations had ceased. The confusion came from two sources. Some residents had seen equipment and trucks moving through the site area and erroneously thought operations had restarted. The work they witnessed was reclamation efforts that had been initiated. This process would still require some of the equipment that had been deployed during the mining process. As for the trucks that were seen passing through the site area, these were trucks that are part of an adjacent, legitimate operation that is legally working with CSX railroad not associated with Horizon 30 LLC. These trucks are carrying rocks and other materials and transit through the site. The NCDEQ is closely monitoring activity through the DELMR division. This ensures that the required steps are taken to bring the site back into compliance, and the last inspection showed no evidence of mining. Many residents still fear that too much damage has been done, and the land will be permanently scarred.
The preliminary injunction would be enforced until or if proper permits were granted. The state ruled on August 25, 2025, to deny the permit application for the highly controversial mining operation in Mitchell County on the NC side of the Nolichucky River Gorge. The decision was partly based on Horizon 30 LLC being told by DEQ and DELMR that it violated the Mining Act of 1971, yet continued to operate despite multiple notices being issued. As of now they are only allowed to work on reclamation at the site.
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NC Labor Commissioner Luke Farley