Residents of Poplar, North Carolina, are increasingly frustrated with what they allege is an illegal mining operation by Horizon 30, LLC, which has been polluting the local environment for nearly a year. The community, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, is rallying to demand action as a court hearing approaches in Boone. This hearing will determine whether the mining operation can be shut down or if Horizon 30 may face additional civil or criminal penalties. The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) recently declared Horizon 30’s activities unauthorized and in violation of state mining laws, prompting the state’s Justice Department to initiate a criminal injunction against the company.
Local residents like Tessa and Leo Sharp express significant concerns about the impacts of the mining activities on their health and livelihood. According to Tessa, the site has produced thick clouds of dust that have seemingly caused the deaths of their rabbits and created broader health risks for the community. With the contrast drawn between Horizon 30 and a nearby, lawful mining operation managed by Sibelco North America Inc., the Sharps feel that the local ecosystem and community integrity are under threat. The Sharps are emblematic of a community grappling with the dual challenges of environmental degradation and the lingering scars of a hurricane, as they share their experience of relocating multiple times since their home was damaged in the storm.
Adding to the tension, Cody Johnson, an Army veteran, has documented visible plumes of silica dust emanating from the mine. He criticizes Horizon 30 for its misleading approach, asserting that the company has exploited emergency protocols linked to the hurricane recovery. Residents feel that an unscrupulous attempt has been made to take advantage of the ongoing recovery effort, highlighting a broader concern about corporate ethics in local business operations. Johnson’s passionate condemnation encapsulates the feelings of many locals who find themselves fighting against what they perceive as a violation of their community’s rights and health.
Horizon 30’s CFO, Sean Chipman, claims that the mining efforts are part of a larger plan associated with emergency repairs and argues that the permits they rely upon are justified. However, residents note that the company has failed to hire locally, with suspiciously non-local license plates appearing at the mining site. Once enthusiastic about local job creation, residents now feel betrayed as they witness limited economic benefits from Horizon 30’s activities. Their frustration is compounded by the fact that despite repeated warnings from the state for the company to cease operations or obtain the necessary permits, Horizon 30 has continued its work without compliance.
After months of inspections and regulatory notices from the North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR), it became evident that Horizon 30 has repeatedly overlooked compliance requirements. The company’s permit application remains incomplete and unapproved, and state labor inspections uncovered multiple irregularities that warrant immediate scrutiny. Tessa Sharp has expressed her alarm over the lack of decisive action from regulatory bodies, which appears to have emboldened the company to operate beyond the law. This lingering uncertainty about the fate of the mining operation leaves residents grappling with questions about environmental responsibility and community safety.
As the hearing date draws near, the desire for a resolution among local residents intensifies. Many are motivated not only by personal grievances but also by a collective commitment to protect their community for future generations. The legal proceedings against Horizon 30 represent a critical juncture, and residents remain hopeful that the courts will recognize their plight and intervene. The situation in Poplar echoes broader themes of environmental justice and community resilience, which are increasingly pertinent in discussions about corporate governance and local activism. In the end, the residents not only seek to halt the mine’s operations but also yearn for a restoration of faith in their community’s integrity and health.
