We are thankful for our supporters

NC Division of Parks and Recreation

NC Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR, aka NC State Parks) sent five (5) comment letters to DEQ and asked for Mining Permit and Bridge denials:

• February 10, 2022
• January 20, 2021 (opposing bridge over Crabtree Creek)
• November 18, 2021
• February 12, 2021
• May 8, 2020

NC State Parks Supports the Purchase of the Odd Fellows tract and  the "286" tract to expand William B. Umstead State Parks

NC State Parks maintains a Critical Land Acquisition list for the park.  For many years they have recognized the need to preserve both the Odd Fellows and 286 East tracts, to protect the park and expand it to meet growing park usage.  See pages 15-16 in the Management Plan for Umstead State Park.

The Odd Fellows Tract and the "286" Tract has been identified by NC State Parks as "Critical Land Acquisition" for water quality protection and single-track bike trails.  NC State Parks has put in writing their strong desire and support to purchase both the the Odd Fellows tract and the "286" tracts.  The NC State Park submitted a strong letter in support of The Conservation Fund's to purchase the Odd Fellows Tract for inclusion into William B. Umstead State Park. View the 2017 Letter to support purchase of the Odd Fellows Tract. View the 2019 Letter from NC State Parks offering to purchase "286."  

NC State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Read SHPO's May 7, 2020 Public Comments reiterating the 1995 listing of William B. Umstead State Park in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and concerned that the mining proposal may "adversely affect the characteristics that made and continue to make the park eligible for the National Register listing."

Wake County Commissioners and Wake County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee

Wake County Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the purchase of the Odd Fellows Tract by the Conservation Fund in October 2017. They also requested the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) School of Government to conduct an introductory feasibility analysis to examine the potential of a recreation-themed development program south of the primary facilities at RDU. Read the analysis now.

Wake County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee have also issued statements opposing the quarry requesting denial of the permit.

Town of Morrisville

The Town of Morrisville unanimously passed a Resolution on June 23, 2020 requesting the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) deny the mining permit application.

City of Raleigh

Raleigh City Council issued a statement on September 17, 2019 stating their opposition to the proposed RDU quarry. They also said the RDUAA should have obtained the City’s permission before entering into the quarry lease.

Town of Cary

The Town of Cary has engaged a consultant to evaluate the potential impacts to Town facilities including the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, Old Reedy Creek Road and Cary’s one-lane bridge.

Read the Town of Cary July 17, 2020 letter to DEQ here

NC Senator Wiley Nickel

North Carolina State Senator Wiley Nickel issued a Press Release on June 23, 2020 asking for denial of the Mining Permit Application. 

Senator Wiley Nickel continued to be proactively opposed to the proposed Mining Permit Application.  As one example, read his October 2021 letter to residents of Wake County here.

NC Sierra Club and NC Sierra Club-Capital Group

The NC Sierra Club has been an active partner in this fight.  Read their cover letter and joint February 2021 Resolution with The Umstead Coalition here

Eno River Association

The Eno River Association May 7, 2020 Public Comments called for permit denial, restoration of the promised Sunset Clause and undisturbed buffers in existing quarry. 

North Carolina Friends of State Parks

NC Friends of State Park, representing the all the NC State Parks and State Recreation Areas submitted a Resolution approved by their Board and signed February 11, 2021 asking for Permit Application Denial, reinstatement of the undisturbed buffers, measured from top of bank, and reinstatement of the 50-year Sunset Clause. 

NC Department of Environmental Quality-Division of Energy, Minerals and Land Resources (DEQ-DEMLR) - Denies Permit Application

On Thursday afternoon, February 17, 2022 DEQ-Mining (formally known as the NC Department of Environmental Quality-Division of Energy, Minerals and Land Resources, DEQ-DEMLR) denied the Mining Permit Application submitted by Wake Stone Corporation to reduce the property buffers on their existing quarry operation on the south side of Crabtree Creek and to dig a new pit on the Odd Fellows Track on the north side of Crabtree Creek. 

The eight page Permit Denial Letter ends with:

"The Division has evaluated the potential for significantly adverse effects on the purposes of a publicly owned park, forest, or recreation area using criteria of noise, visual, and truck traffic impacts with consideration of the increased sensitivity of the Park regarding development pressures at its borders. Individually and in combination, the increased quarry noise levels at the Park boundary and intrusion of quarry noise deeper into the Park, a less desirable visual setting due to the sound barrier wall and quarry operation, and the continued loss of natural buffers around the Park result in a significantly adverse effect on the recreation, conservation, and education purposes of the Park as a result of the proposed activity. Additionally, increased interactions between Park visitors (vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians) and trucks associated with the operation of the quarry will compound these significantly adverse effects. This position has been strongly articulated by DPR (Division of Parks and Recreation, aka NC State Parks) in written and verbal comments, as well as by thousands of comments from the general public. The Division agrees. In accordance with 74-Sl(d)(S), the Division finds that there is a significantly adverse effect to the purposes of a publicly owned park."

Thanks to these businesses and organizations for supporting the RDU Forest Vision.