State environmental regulators have issued an air quality permit for a proposed asphalt plant in Ashe County after determining that a quarry at the same site now complies with state mining and land quality regulations.
Regulators had put the air permit on hold after learning that Glendale Springs Quarry, which would be adjacent to the proposed Appalachian Materials asphalt plant, was not in compliance with state rules for controlling runoff and sedimentation from mining sites.
The owner of the quarry had applied for the air permit in order to build and operate an asphalt plant at the same location, on Glendale School Road in Glendale Springs, N.C. The air permit deals with the control of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and other air emissions from the plant, and the facility would use a bag filter as the primary means for controlling emissions.
By law, the DAQ must review permits for compliance with air quality regulations. The division has no authority over zoning, land use, or where a company decides to locate a facility. Local governments are responsible for regulating land use.
The air permit may be viewed on-line at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-permitting
More information about air quality issues can be found at the Division of Air Quality’s web site, www.ncair.org/