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 was made in accordance with the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971.
A Watauga Superior Court judge ruled on August 13, 2025, that Horizon 30 was operating an unpermitted mine, which violated the Mining Act. The court issued a preliminary injunction requiring the company to stop mining activities immediately and begin reclamation of the site. Following this order, the Division denied Horizon 30’s permit application under N.C.G.S. § 74-51(d)(7).
Before the court’s decision, Horizon 30 had been operating without a valid permit on a site covering about 50 acres, with approximately 23 acres used for excavation. The Division is continuing to monitor reclamation efforts at the location to ensure compliance with state requirements.
Details about Horizon 30’s application process, related documentation from the Division, information from a public hearing held in July, and specifics regarding the permit denial are available on the DEQ website.
