Chair Notes
for Tidal Talk, July/August 2008
I never thought
I'd be writing this, but I really want to express my thanks to the New
Hanover County Commissioners for energizing the environmental community
in a way that never before seemed possible. Early in the year, they
proposed selling park land south of Monkey Junction to a developer who
wanted to build yet another strip mall. After a meeting attended by
more than 100 residents who spoke against the proposed sale, the
developer withdrew his proposal.
Barely three months later, the County Commissioners
were at it again. With only three days notice to the public, they
granted financial incentives to a cement plant, one of the world's most
polluting industries, to locate in Castle Hayne. (Cement plants are
different from concrete plants.) Of course, the commissioners did not
consult with the people of Castle Hayne. The company, based in Greece,
is interested in this area primarily because large amounts of limestone
and water are needed to make cement, and Castle Hayne has both. Also,
there are strict limits on cement plant operations in Greece and other
countries that signed the Kyoto Protocol, due to the C02 that is
released by burning coal.
As we all know, the United States has not yet
adopted C02 emission standards.
In making cement, coal is burned in order to heat limestone to very
high temperatures. The heat causes mercury compounds to be released
from the coal as well as the limestone. This area already has a problem
with mercury emissions from Progress Energy's coal fired power plant
just outside of Wilmington. In addition to air pollution and its impact
on human health, the location of the plant will mean that some 500
acres of wetlands may be destroyed in order to quarry limestone and the
company is investigating additional purchases of land containing
limestone.
Water quality could also be adversely affected, and there is concern
that the limestone mining could lead to more saltwater intrusion into
the Castle Hayne Aquifer and/or lowering of the water table. For more
information, www.stoptitan.org is a grassroots generated website that
has good information about the problems with cement plants. The
permitting process will take several months. Find out what you can do
now by reading the information below.
June 30: The Star News presents an informational forum at 7 PM in the
Warwick Center ballroom at UNCW. You can submit questions at
StarNewsOnline.com/Titan
July 1: The permitting agencies, federal and state, have scheduled a
forum at 6 PM at the Wilmington Christian Academy, 1401 N. College
Road, to hear from interested citizens on what information Titan should
be required to collect as a part of the approval/disapproval process.
What are your issues? Our Cape Fear Group as well as other
environmental groups will have detailed proposals to submit. but this
meeting is really designed for citizens to speak up about their
concerns, whether about truck traffic or bird watching. There will most
likely be several small group discussions occurring simultaneously. We
need your help to make sure that we have representation at each
discussion group. Please email or call Janice Wilson if you can attend.
incwils@aol.com, phone 313-0498.
Ju1y3: Even more importantly, written comments may be submitted to the
permitting agencies until July 14. This is where you can also have an
impact. Come to the River Watch building at 617 Surry Street at 6 PM
for pizza and help in writing your comments on what data Titan needs to
collect. Are you concerned about air pollution, toxins. destruction of
wetlands,
damage to the Castle Hayne aquifer? We will have the information you
need to write directly to the permitting agencies.
Janice Wilson, Cape Fear Group
Chairperson