(s)Coping with Titan and the Corps
Thanks to all of the Wilmington 300 (including Commissioners Kopp and Davis) who turned out last Tuesday night at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scoping meeting on Titan’s EIS. If you could ignore all the beefy sheriff’s deputies who turned out to keep those dangerous middle-aged parents, retired grandparents, and misguided county commissioners in check, or Titan’s lengthy PR show about how much we need a cement plant (brushing aside the obvious fact that somehow we managed to build roads, bridges, schools, homes, and hospitals for the last 25 years without one), then the meeting went fairly well. Unfortunately, the process was a bit bulky and slow and not all of our concerns got pasted on the walls. Several attendees also complained that the facilitators oversimplified their concerns. Which makes it all the more important to resubmit your full comments on line or via mail, so the Corps gets the full benefit of your wisdom. You have until 4:15 pm on July 15 to get them in, so don’t delay. Check our previous scoping post for the address.
Sorry, but I can’t resist the comment the Titan spokesman made about locally produced cement being more “environmentally friendly.” Let’s ignore for the moment their comparison of pollutants produced from importing cement via rail from (the horror!) South Carolina or Virginia, or via ship from anywhere else along the Eastern Seaboard versus a massive coal-burning cement kiln running 24/7 for 50 years. As a multinational cement conglomerate that exports its product around the globe, their sudden interest in producing locally is really touching, and probably has nothing to do with rising fuel prices. And by the way, as the Star-News noted in their big cement story on June 29, our region used roughly 878,000 metric tons of cement from 2003 to 2007. One sharp reader pointed out that amounts to 220,000 tons a year (or 175,000 tons if the years are inclusive). The plant they propose will pump out 2.3 million tons a year. So what are they going to do with their annual surplus production of 2.08 million tons? In the Port City? Anyone….anyone?
(hint: can you spell E-X-P-O-R-T?)
JB
Do some more reading about the import and export of cement in the US. Where would they export it to? At present the US is not exporting any cement, the reason….it is far cheaper to make it overseas and ship it here.
Hi Ben,
I have read some, not near enough, on the issue of cement exports. Apparently, there is a possible trend towards the export of cement from US to Asian and Indian markets. Africa is also emerging market. As cement demand in US levels out, increased demand projections are modeled towards 2020 to 2050 timeframe abroad. US plants have steadily been increasing their production rates and building new plants. From what I have gathered thus far, the biggest issue will be freight costs. There are international freight companies specializing in heavy product like cement/clinker and various reports out recently speaking to the ways around the transport cost. Much more to learn on this issue, no doubt, but it certainly seems like a strong possibility.
Would it be feasible to try and get issue on the ballot in November? It would definitely get a lot more attention than it is now and let the public at large be heard. If it was voted down and the elected officials pushed for it anyway, it then could be taken into the courts.
Where do I sign up to help stop Titan Cement.
(I work for a truck brokerage firm. We have no affiliation with Titan Cement.)
I live on Blossom Ferry Road. I will sign any petition to stop this from happening.
Let me know how I can help.
Thank you,
Megan Heuring
Megan - Just send an e-mail to contactus@stoptitan.org with your contact information. Thanks for your offer to help!
I work for this company Titan America, for three years and all they did to me was LIE, LIE, LIE, The Tampa plant always lose flyash and cement products wich blow all over the place. They only want to take your money. As far as getting hired by this company, make sure you record every conversation or they will burn you. They are very write up happy so drivers are always on edge. as far as west coast of Florida, we have horrible leaders.