PUBLIC HEARING
July 14
Martin Marietta Materials Castle Hayne Quarry Expansion: Major Wetland & Water Quality Impacts
Martin Marietta is seeking permission to expand the mining on its 1,400-acre quarry between Holly Shelter Road and the Northeast Cape Fear River east of Castle Hayne.
The proposed quarry expansion would impact nearly 143 acres of wetlands − more than twice the size of Wilmington's Halyburton Park − and 9.7 acres of open water, to allow the company to access additional underground limestone reserves used in the building of roads, driveways, and fill for other construction projects. The waters surrounding the quarry—Island Creek and the Northeast Cape Fear River—are critically important fish habitat that will be harmed by its expansion. These adverse impacts, plus the loss of wildlife habitat, degradation of groundwater, harm to neighboring wetlands, reduction of flood abatement capacity, and loss of recreational opportunities, will all directly impact members of the Castle Hayne community as well as the greater Cape Fear region in general.
Many environmental advocates requested extension of public comments & a public hearing - Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center. This public hearing is for a 401 Certification.
Public Hearing:
Where: Heide Trask Senior High School auditorium, 14328 N.C. 210, Rocky Point, N.C., 28457
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Speaker registration will begin at 5:30 pm via an in-person sign-up sheet. DCM cannot guarantee that there will be enough time to hear comments from all people who register to speak, so please consider arriving early to sign up.
What: Comments on the application available at: https://perma.cc/MW8V-Q5XN.
Who: Anyone may provide oral or written public comments at the hearing. Speakers will likely be limited to 3 minutes per person.
Register: Speaker registration opens at 5:30 p.m. onsite via sign-in sheet.
Even if you cannot attend the hearing, you can submit written comments online at this link: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/401_Public_Notice_Comments or by mail to: Stephanie Goss, 401 Permitting, 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC, 27699-1617. Comments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on August 13, 2026. Use project # 20260387, version 1, Project Name Castle Hayne
Register to attend with Cape Fear Sierra Club - to stay updated and receive talking points for public comment.
What is a 401 Certification?
Under the Clean Water Act, the discharge of dredged or fill materials into wetlands and other waters of the United States must be permitted through a “404 Permit.” In order for this type of permit to be issued, the state where the discharge is to take place must certify that the project will not violate the state’s water quality standards. This determination is called a “401 Certification.” Martin Marietta has applied for a 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which requires a 401 Certification. This meeting and accompanying comment period addresses whether the state should issue the 401 certification. If the state does not, the Corps cannot issue a 404 Permit. As proposed, the quarry expansion would unnecessarily degrade 143.46 acres of valuable wetlands and 9.70 acres of open water in violation of the state’s water quality standards.
How Will DCM Make Its Decision?
This hearing is a chance for you to raise your concerns about the Castle Hayne Quarry expansion. It is an especially good opportunity to raise concerns about impacts to wetlands, water quality, wildlife habitat, the region’s ability to withstand flooding, and other environmental resources because DCM’s decision should focus on those impacts.
According to state law (15A N.C. Admin. Code 02H .0506(b)), DCM must consider whether a project “has avoided and minimized impacts to surface waters and wetlands to ensure any remaining surface waters or wetlands, and any surface waters or wetlands downstream, continue to support existing uses during and after project completion” and whether a project “would cause or contribute to a violation of water quality standards.” The logical extension is that if a proposed activity cannot satisfy those criteria, the state must deny certification.