State Confirms Quarry Is Out of Compliance — Now We Stay Watchful
To the 1,385+ supporters,
We wanted to share an important update and sincerely thank you for staying engaged. Your documentation, questions, and persistence have made a real difference — and this update confirms that.
In a Notice of Violation dated November 20, 2025, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) officially declared the Hampton Stone Quarry "out of compliance."
TDEC stated plainly:
“The facility remains out of compliance until a complete application is approved by the Division to properly permit the facility’s area of operation.”
This is not a complaint, a rumor, or a community opinion. It is the State of Tennessee confirming that the quarry is operating improperly and is not currently permitted as required under its federal NPDES permit. To regain compliance, the operator must submit a new, complex application—around 91 pages long—which will require significant time and formal review.
For reference, the public inspection record is available here:
[https://dataviewers.tdec.tn.gov/dataviewers/r/tdec_reports/f11776/inspection-details?p23_row_id=301507](https://dataviewers.tdec.tn.gov/dataviewers/r/tdec_reports/f11776/inspection-details?p23_row_id=301507
Why This Matters Locally
The illegal quarry activity originates on land owned by a sitting Carter County Planning Commissioner, and the extracted material is transported to and processed through the Hampton Stone facility. Despite months of community concern and documentation, local leadership did not take action to address this conflict of interest or remove the commissioner from his position. That lack of accountability is what brought many residents to speak up in the first place.
Why This Matters Right Now: The $1.5 Million in Federal Funds
On December 10, the Johnson City Press reported that Carter County has received nearly $1.5 million in federal reimbursements related to Hurricane Helene recovery. These funds are meant for roads, infrastructure, and helping our community recover.
Given the documented lack of accountability, it is reasonable and responsible to pay close attention to how this money is handled. This is not about accusations; it’s about awareness and demanding transparency for public funds.
We encourage every citizen to Watch how Helene recovery funds are allocated. Pay attention to contracts, vendors, and public records. Ask questions at public meetings.
Moving Forward - This process is ongoing. Any citizen who has witnessed environmental violations has the right to report what they’ve observed through appropriate channels. Multiple reports from different residents help ensure that issues are reviewed thoroughly. you can submit a tip to the FBI's Public Corruption unit at https://tips.fbi.gov.
We are encouraged that the State has now confirmed the quarry is out of compliance. That is a meaningful step. At the same time, it reminds us why continued public attention is important — especially when public funds are involved.
Thank you for caring about this community, for staying engaged, and for standing up for fairness and accountability.
We will continue to share updates as they become available.
— Thank you for standing with us.