On Sept. 16, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted in federal court a proposed consent decree and accompanying draft restoration plan to address damages to the Roanoke River caused by the Weyerhaeuser Plymouth Mill. The proposed restoration projects would compensate the public for harm to fish, aquatic habitat and recreational fishing caused by releases of hazardous substances from the former mill. The mill is now owned by Domtar Paper Company.
The Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan is now open for public comment until Oct. 16, 2026.
“Residents of Plymouth and downstream communities deserve a healthy and clean Roanoke River,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. "This settlement ensures protection of fish and wildlife habitat, abundant recreational opportunities and strengthened resilience to flooding.”
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) process, natural resource trustees are authorized to assess and recover damages resulting from harm to natural resources and loss of services attributable to hazardous substances. The draft plan outlines the following restoration activities:
- A proposed conservation deed restriction protecting approximately 760 acres of Warren Neck forested wetlands. The tract provides fish nursery habitat important to the health of the Roanoke River.
- Approximately $1.75 million to support a project for floodplain reconnection, wetland protection and fish passage. The project will repair up to five lost natural connections by restoring habitat and installing water crossings and fish-friendly culverts. The project will reconnect three miles of historic stream channels to natural flow and flood regime and improve over 600 acres of habitat.
- Funding for restoration planning, implementation and monitoring.
- Credit for previous improvements to the Plymouth boat ramp and waterfront park completed by Domtar.
- Credit for installation of high-capacity cooling water towers that eliminated withdrawals from the Roanoke River, reducing fish mortality.
- Credit for lighting improvements completed by Domtar.
Members of the public may submit comments via mail, phone or email.
- Mail: Howard Schnabolk
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405 - Phone: 854-429-2252
- Email: Howard.Schnabolk@noaa.gov
The Plymouth Mill began operating in 1937 as a wood and paper products manufacturing facility. Over several decades, the mill released hazardous substances into groundwater, soils, Welch Creek and the Roanoke River. Contaminants, including dioxins, furans, mercury and volatile organic compounds, accumulated in fish and other aquatic species, leading to a fish consumption advisory that has remained in effect since 1990. The mill withdrew water from the river as part of the manufacturing process. The cooling water withdrawals pulled in larval fish, reducing fish populations and affecting recreational fishing in the lower Roanoke River.