MITCHELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The NC Department of Environmental Quality has denied a mining permit for an operation that was previously called illegal.

On Aug. 8, the North Carolina Department of Labor declared the operation of Horizon 30, LLC. in Poplar illegal and reported it to the Department of Environmental Quality.

NCDEQ went to court for a preliminary injunction, which was granted by a judge until a permit was granted.

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NCDEQ denied a permit for Horizon 30, LLC. in late August and said the reclamation process has begun.

The denial documentation is available here:

Horizon 30 Denial Letter by tyler.scott

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