Triangle Quarry Expansion Update

No. Wake Stone maintains quarry process water in a closed-loop system. Stormwater and mine dewatering discharges are allowed and are regulated by state and federal permits.

The RDUAA believes it has the authority to enter into leases of airport property of up to 40 years and the Federal Aviation Administration has pronounced that the Wake Stone lease is proper under federal law. Despite these facts, a lawsuit has been filed by the Triangle Off Road Cyclists (TORC), the Umstead Coalition, the Dunn family, and Bill Doucette challenging the authority of the RDUAA to enter into such a lease agreement. The issue will ultimately be determined by the Wake County Superior Court. We will have a decision by mid October 2019.

The mining lease is not a sale. Fee simple ownership of the property remains with the airport during the full duration of the lease. Mineral leases are common throughout the United States and across North Carolina.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that blasting at Triangle Quarry has caused damage to any nearby homes or structures. Seismic monitoring occurs during every blast to assure compliance with mining permit stipulated limits for sound and ground vibration. Although seismic instruments used to monitor blasting are not as sensitive as those designed to detect earthquakes from thousands of miles away, they are more than adequate for detecting vibration levels that scientists determined will have the potential to cause damage to structures or foundations.

Wake Stone uses modern engineering and blasting technologies to prevent fly rock and to minimize ground vibrations and air blast. In 50 years of operation at five quarries, Wake Stone has never experienced a fly rock incident endangering adjacent properties.

Crabtree Creek’s foundation is solid bedrock that will not be impaired by mining. The proposed plan will maintain extensive, undisturbed buffers to prevent negative environmental impacts to the creek. The Triangle Quarry has operated for nearly 40 years with no impact to the structural integrity of the creek. Additionally, the mine plan will be rigorously vetted by state and federal regulators during the permitting process to ensure the continued structural integrity of the creek.

No. The property being considered for the quarry expansion is 105 acres east of Old Reedy Creek Rd. owned by the RDUAA. The new expansion would not include mining any portion of Umstead State Park or mining any airport property across Old Reedy Creek Road.

Old Reedy Creek Road will only be used on a limited basis to provide access during the land preparation and construction phase. Wake Stone will construct a new bridge across Crabtree Creek to access the existing quarry, allowing all customers to use the current Triangle Quarry entrance on Harrison Avenue. After completion of bridge construction, there will be no quarry traffic on Old Ready Creek Road. This is clearly stated in the RDUAA-Wake Stone mining lease.

Wake Stone has never received a Notice of Violation (NOV) for non-compliance with any of its NC DEQ environmental permits. Wake Stone has worked exceptionally hard to meet or exceed all environmental requirements and permit conditions, and has strived to be a good neighbor to Umstead State Park and the surrounding community.
In fact, the Umstead Coalition has never once voiced a complaint to NC DEQ or Wake Stone about quarry operations, until now. In 1999, Umstead Coalition Chair Jean Spooner wrote a letter of recommendation recognizing Wake Stone as a good neighbor and community citizen. To view the letter, click here: Umstead Coalition Letter