Federal regulators challenge NC phosphate mine

RALEIGH — Federal regulators say they think an expansion of a phosphate mine in eastern North Carolina would cause environmental damage and should be modified.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week that an 11,000-acre expansion permit the corps planned to issue to PCS Phosphate in Aurora should be put on hold. The mine has operated about 35 years on the Pamlico River.

The Pamlico River and Pamlico Sound are nursery areas for many species of fish found along the Atlantic coast.

Company officials say they are disappointed by the EPA’s position and hope the Corps of Engineers will resolve the issue.

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