The assembled crowd was mixed: retirees, farmers, professionals, environmentalists, all seeking answers from the independent consultants hired by Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., along with North Carolina Division of Water Resources representatives.

But answers were noticeably absent, according to Beaufort County Commissioner Al Klemm.

The hearing Tuesday night was a NCDWR effort to gather public concerns about a water usage permit that would, if issued, grant Martin Marietta the right to pump 12,000,000 gallons of water per day out of the Castle Hayne aquifer to use in the operation of a 649-acre quarry in southern Beaufort County.

After a brief introduction to the project, describing the areas of potential impact for Beaufort County residents, followed by a summary of Martin Marietta’s response plan by Dr. Richard Spruill with the consulting firm of Groundwater Management Services, the floor was opened to residents for comment. Though several people attempted to ask questions during the proceedings, neither state representatives nor the consultants opted to answer.

“The first thing I noticed, in the past I’ve been through DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) hearings before and they always seem very prepared,” Klemm said. “They didn’t seem very prepared and I didn’t think they explained the information well at all.”

Residents questioned the lack of specificity in Martin Marietta’s response plan that states the ways in which the company will respond if a private well ceases to operate because of mine activities. While the broad plan says that Martin Marietta, at its own expense, will either fix a well, drill a new well or hook a user up to the county system if it’s determined the mine’s operations are behind a well’s loss, those in attendance were attempting to find specific answers: whether wells used for geothermal heating units are covered; how far the “zone of influence” extends; who decides whether Martin Marietta is responsible for replacing a given well, and more.

Stanley Sheets told the crowd about his new well, dug in 2011, that exists a matter of yards outside the “zone of influence,” the expected perimeter of impact drawn by Martin Marietta consultants.

“Dr. Spruill, will my well be covered?”

Spruill declined to answer.

Sheets, and all those in attendance, were subsequently reminded by Tom Reader, director of Division of Water Resources and acting director of Division of Water Quality, that the hearing was for comments and not a question and answer session.

Other residents addressed the required monitoring of water levels as required by the state — how the information will be reported and what action will be taken against Martin Marietta should mine operations negatively impact the aquifer, as none is specified in documentation.

“I know I feel really good at the end of the month when the fox gives me the report that there are plenty of chickens in the henhouse,” said Ed Rhine, a Blounts Creek resident.

“We at least deserve to know what the penalties will be and what you will do to stop the progress they’re making. Make them fix it before they go any further,” said Russell Morgan.

Commissioner Hood Richardson attended the hearing, but said he didn’t hear anything that would require DENR to reevaluate issuing a permit. He said building the mine would be a big economic advantage and a boost of as much as $20,000,000 in taxable assets for the county to tap.

“There’s nothing new that was said. You’ve got to keep in mind that I do these mine permits,” Richardson said. “I’m sorry these people are as concerned as they are. Having the project in perspective, when compared with the rest of the world, makes it not of any great concern. It’s not as significant as they think it is.”

“I think DENR is a professional organization,” Klemm said. “I think they do their best, but some of the citizens there scared me last night with their concerns. I think every one of these complaints that were brought up by the citizens need to be adequately addressed before it moves forward.”

At the hearing’s end, Rhine encouraged all those in attendance to join the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation. PTRF has indicated the organization may file suit against the state to prevent the CCPCUA and NPDES permits from going into effect.