RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- In a Wednesday morning ruling, the supporters of the Umstead Coalition received much-welcomed news from the superior court.

Judge Sean Cole, in his ruling, sided with the coalition after years of the group's advocacy efforts to prevent Wake Stone , now Vulcan Materials, from expanding mining operations near Umstead State Park.

In his ruling, Judge Cole ordered the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to halt mining operations by 2031 , in alignment with the original sunset clause agreement that was originally agreed to in 1981.

At the time, Wake Stone asked for permission to mine the land near Umstead State Park for a total of 50 years. However, years ago, NCDEQ and Wake Stone partnered to further expand mining operations through a continuati

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