A senior official with the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) has just uncovered an illegal mining operation in North Carolina.
The discovery came after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) asked NCDOL to provide miner safety training at a Horizon 30, LLC site in Poplar. During the visit, an experienced NCDOL official identified several irregularities and questioned whether the site had the required state environmental permit.
“This is exactly why I’ve made it a priority to support and empower our field staff,” said Commissioner Farley in a press release. “Their experience, judgment, and vigilance are critical to keeping workers safe and enforcing the law. If our staff hadn’t gone above and beyond their duty to protect workers, this illegal operation could have continued unnoticed — putting lives at risk and undermining public trust in our regulatory system. Thanks to the quick action of our team, the site has been exposed and will be held accountable.”
When Horizon 30 failed to produce the necessary documentation, NCDOL alerted the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). DEQ later confirmed the mine was operating without authorization and in violation of state mining laws.
As a result of the NCDOL report and inter-agency cooperation, legal proceedings are now underway to shut down the operation. Officials say the case underscores the importance of proactive oversight in preventing unsafe and illegal industrial activity.
NCDOL emphasized that, under Commissioner Farley’s leadership, the agency remains committed to ensuring all mining and quarry operations uphold strict workplace safety standards while complying with environmental regulations.
