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Sound Rivers’ Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop is speaking out about North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issuance of an air quality permit for the Moriah Energy Center in Person County.

“We’re incredibly disappointed to see the issuance of this permit with very few changes and added protections for community in the airshed,” Samantha said.

Samantha, along with community members in Person County, weighed in on the air quality permit in June, in part because Dominion Energy was not required to seek a water quality permit for the liquified natural gas storage facility currently under construction.

Since, ongoing sediment pollution from the construction site has turned previously clear streams running through and adjacent to the property murky with sediment.

“We share concerns expressed by community members in the area who don’t trust in Dominion’s ability to mitigate toxic emissions and follow the requirements outlined in this permit, because Dominion is already polluting the waterways with their construction process,” Samantha said.

In June, NCDEQ employees verified the sediment was coming from land cleared to make way for the facility, and in August, Division of Water Resources staff acknowledged that Dominion’s future home of the Moriah Energy Center is responsible for the pollution, but a loophole in regulatory state law prevents action from being taken.

The issue, Samantha said at the time, is that the regulations created to prevent sediment from pouring off clear-cut construction sites into the waterways are ineffective, but as long as the company is abiding by those regulations, there is little DWR can do.

Samantha said she and community partners will continue to monitor impacts from the facility’s construction.

“We, at Sound Rivers, remain committed to water quality and holding Dominion accountable during the construction process,” she said.

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