Commissioners E-Letter
(Greer, Caster, Davis, Kopp, Pritchet)
As a Cape Fear citizen, I was stunned to learn about another polluting heavy industrial plant proposed for Castle Hayne. The cement manufacturing industry is a dirty business with a trail around the globe of environmental issues, health concerns and lawsuits. The introduction of more air pollutants into North Carolina airways, as you may know, is very relevant at this time with numerous lawsuits in NC regarding coal-fired plants and the mercury they emit. The decision to allow a cement plant by Titan America, LLC, the first coal-fired cement plant in North Carolina, makes it of considerable concern at the state level.
Our air quality (which of course impacts the health of our denigrated water) is already overburdened. When Castle Hayne was zoned for heavy industry it didn’t have a large residential population nearby. Now we have three elementary schools in the proposed danger zone (5 mile radius from a cement manufacturing plant). The total impact zone includes a 30-mile radius of our beautiful coastal area.
The main argument for allowing Titan to build in our area seems to be solely economic. Studies show that low technology manufacturing actually decreases resident consumer spending and employment rates as well as creating jobs that are often temporary, low wage and dangerous.
I’d like to see your research regarding the negative impacts directly resulting from cement manufacturing pollution, on other businesses, North Carolina’s $2.3 billion fishing industry, loss of possible real estate value, loss of life, increased health care costs, or the eventual toxic plant clean-up and reclamation at the end of the plant’s operation.
On a final note, it’s irresponsible to spend our taxpayer dollars to recruit another polluting company, especially one that reported $900 million in revenue last year. With our air and water quality already deteriorated, we need growth that does no further harm to our fragile resources and communities.
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I will not support any of our incumbent County commissioners if this project goes forward. Please do not be short sited. Consider your impact on the land our children will inherit.
I am a New Hanover County resident, with a health issue of Sarcoidosis. In addition to this health issue involving my liver, it also involves lung infections. The lung infection is caused from toxic substances, such as tobacco smoke, asbestos, and ENVIRONMENTAL DUSTS. I have had the lung infection, and to help my breathing I have to take steroids and breathing treatments. The infection can produce significant damage to the lung, and can be fatal. I hope that you, the commissioners value LIVES instead of job and tax revenue. I’m sure that most of you commissioners have children, grandchildren, I pray that they will never have to go through the health issues as I do. One sure way of the children remaining healthy, will be to STOP TITAN CEMENT !!
I am somewhat considered to be a local celebrity & I have never been so ashamed of my hometown & my home county as I am right now. I, also, suffer from the sarcoidosis condition and now see that my home county is planning to try & kill me! Sound harsh? Sure it does but, it’s what is happening. I have emailed all the county commissioners & city council. Most ignore the obvious & look at what Titan cement will do for them. Kopp, Davis, Caster, & etc….YOU WILL NOT HAVE MY VOTE. I can move & actually plan to move in the next couple of years & you can believe this Titan cement thing sure didn’t make my decision hard. But, for those who remain in New Hanover & Pender counties…you have my heart felt condolences!!!
Is it love of money or love of envioroment ? I understand the attorneys that
started the Stop Titon Petition are enviiromental attorneys and make their living filing
suits such as this…. Isn’t this a little questionable ????
Needless to say, I support Titan 100% and hope they are able to get permitted
and to bring good paying jobs to the area. Go Titan !!!
Stoptitan.org could only hope to have access to environmental attorneys! That’s what they’ll need to fight off a multi-million-dollar-a-year foreign corporate polluter.
They are not attorneys. Your source for that one is inaccurate Jewel. I encourage you to check the accuracy of your claims before you post.
Jewell - I can’t help googling when I read such unequivocal praise for large-scale polluters like Titan Cement — We’ve seen Titan employees posing here as disinterested citizen cement boosters already.
Your real estate site is awesomely discordant with the views you share here. Do you believe that a giant local cement plant fosters the kind of sea-oats, soft-focus luxury you “brand” with there? Really?
Evidence points to the contrary: Polluters like Titan drag down residential real estate values, tourism, other services, and the whole economy at a level that completely outpaces what few jobs they may provide
Even if selling is what matters most to you, Titan’s not a good idea.
Jewel - You stated that it was love of money that prompted the environmental attoueys to do what they do. Arn’t you doing the same thing as a realtor in promoting Titan for potential sale of property to new employes. Never mind that property values will drop because of the increase in polution.
I never vote…I’ve never voted…But if this Titan project goes through I will not only vote but mobilize all those around me to defeat any and all county commisioners who do nothing to stop Titan.
Dave—this is your time to vote. This is the time EVERYONE needs to vote and do it on the Titan issue. There’s plenty in the paper/press about where the candidates stand on Titan. Read the link below to see where candidates stand. Tell everyone you know to vote about this because it’s the best way to have a say in the future of our community. Please don’t wait until Titan is here to get involved. The time is now.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20081016/ARTICLES/810162998