Why Titan Is Bad for the NC Coast
- New Hanover County’s air and watershed are already overburdened with pollutants, though few are visible to the naked eye. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Toxic Release Inventory, which tracks emissions of six major pollutants, New Hanover has the highest emissions of carbon monoxide and chromium compounds of any county in the state; the fifth highest emissions of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide (prime components of smog and acid rain); and the sixth highest emissions of particulate matter and mercury. A massive cement plant and its associated limestone mine would increase emissions of all of the above, along with other heavy metals and thousands of tons of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Such an industry could potentially make New Hanover County one of the most polluted counties in the state. http://xapps.enr.state.nc.us/aq/ToxicsReport/Toxrpt.jsp?ibeam=true
- When the Castle Hayne site was zoned for heavy industry in the early 1970s, it didn’t have a large residential population nearby. Today three elementary schools lie in the initial danger zone (5 mile radius) where the most pollutants will fall, as is the site of the new elementary school on Sidbury Road. The growing communities of Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Topsail, Porter’s Neck, Ogden, and Leland all lie within ten miles of the proposed plant. The area of greatest contamination is within a 30 mile radius (see “We’re all downwind” on this site), which covers much of New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick Counties. Tall smokestacks can spread contaminants for as far as 100 miles.
http://www.corkscrewroad.com/westwind/cementplanthealth.htm
- With numerous lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, estuaries, and miles of coastal waters, our area is more vulnerable to mercury pollution than most. We rely on these water bodies for industry, irrigation, recreation, and as nursery areas for commercial and recreational fisheries–the backbone of our tourism industry. Yet many of our water bodies and fish already contain high levels of mercury, prompting recent consumption advisories for many popular fish species. They do not need more.
http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/mercury_nc/index.htm
- The main argument New Hanover County commissioners gave for enticing Titan to our area was economic – 160 new jobs and $450 million in infrastructure investment. But according to an experts at UNCW, the model used for estimating such benefits was critically flawed. In fact, actual studies of southern cities where new low-tech industries located show they typically reduce long-term net economic activity and jobs due to increasing input costs, congestion of local infrastructure, and the perception that an area is favoring dirty heavy industries. Nor did the commissioners consider the negative affect air pollution would have on the real estate or tourism industries, or the increased health care costs due to more asthma, emphysema, and other ailments.
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We need to educate our citizens and county Commisioners to stop Titan from coming here. This is not the sort of businesses we need in North Carolina!
This a good one to fight.
Why do we need more dust around this burg?
Mt. Fluffmore went away why not this bondoggle? Fight Fight Fight. This one is not going away without one and I’m on board.
I vote in this county so I have a say.
I say fight the good fight and we shall
persevere. TTFN
Questions: has anyone checked with the epa reguarding other titan cement plants?
have there been problems at other plant sites? why didn’t the mayor and his cronies check titan out before asking them here? remember the fecal matter that the professors at uncw found in the river. the city of wilmington denied any knowledge of it. will they do the same when higher levels of mercury are found in th northeast river.
If this plant is built it will be taken out by people whom have — ——- ——– that pack a mean punch. The local and longtime residents of southeastern NC will not allow this plant to be built. When the diplomatic niceness and protocal doesn’t work then the last resort will be taken . Or so rumor has it. I hear they go by the name of Vanila Gorillas…. Enough is enough!!!! Go somewhere else…. Save the Southern children something for they’re children. STOP TITAN civilly or by any means necesary! We willl not be pushed around nor paid off for the impact that will occur. We can ask them nicely to go away or we can make thim wish they had. So please people behind this stop titan group stop being sooo nice! The sender of this reply hereby removes themselves responesibility from any action that may procure and will in no way shape or form take responsibility or partake in any illegal actions that may occur . they are just giveing a psychic insight as to what is seen in the crystal ball
peace and love
anonymity
In my mailbox this morning was a postcard from Carolinas Cement Company (Titan) who says they “are eager to meet me!” They held an informational meeting June 24 & even had refreshments (sure to win folks over:)
The only problem is I received the postcard June 26.
Did anyone else hear about this meeting before it was held? If so, what information did you gather?
I also received my postcard on June 26th to meet with Titan. Now I am even more skeptical about the information Titan is giving us. I am very concerned about the Mercury emissions in this area and I am afraid this is not going to help with that problem.