Tell national leaders to support EPA's compromise proposal that protects the environment during mine expansion

PCS Phosphate’s current mine expansion proposal in Beaufort County would be the largest single destruction of wetlands in North Carolina’s history, causing irreversible harm to tourism and fishing in the immediate area and downstream along the state’s beautiful coastline. It jeopardizes the irreplaceable ecosystem of Albemarle-Pamlico Sound, one of the most productive American fisheries, which generates thousands of jobs and over $1 billion annually.

PCS has been its own agent of delay, and now seeks to capitalize on the time crunch it created. The company even sued the state during the permitting process after being warned it would delay the issuance of any permits.  It's now seeking to mine 11,000 acres, including 4,000 acres of wetlands and nearly five miles of tidal creeks and streams bordering the Pamlico River.

The Company’s preferred expansion would permanently damage important habitat for economically valuable commercial and recreational fish species. Destroying these important fisheries will mortgage our children and grandchildren’s economic future and health long after PCS has left the area. No mitigation measures can reverse that mining damage.

Because of these irreversible harms, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council raised the same concerns throughout the permit process, yet they remain unaddressed.

Please contact the following members of our federal delegation and tell them:

To protect North Carolina's economic diversity, natural wealth and people, I ask you to support EPA's compromise proposal that would allow uninterrupted mining for at least 29 more years while maintaining the water quality of the Pamlico River and the commercial fishing, recreation, tourism, and other important economic uses it supports.

Senator Kay Hagan                                      Rep. G.K., Butterfield
Phone: (202) 224-6342 or email                 Phone: (202) 225-3101 or email

Senator Richard Burr                                   Rep. Walter B. Jones
Phone: (202) 224-3154 or email                  Phone: (292) 225-3415 or email

For more information on the issue, click here.