Titan Cement bad for area
Public Comments Regarding Titan Cement
New Hanover County Courthouse, April 21, 2008
By Joel K. Bourne Jr.
Get involved at stoptitan.org
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners:
My name is Joel Bourne. I am a freelance journalist and editor residing in the Ogden area of New Hanover County. For the past two decades I have covered important environmental issues for a number of national magazines, most recently as Senior Editor for the Environment at National Geographic. I am currently a contributing writer for that magazine.
More importantly however, I am also the father of three small children and the uncle of two great kids who suffer from asthma, as well as elderly parents who often come to visit their grandchildren. Mr. Chairman, in last Friday’s newspaper article (Star News, April 16th: Giant cement company looks at New Hanover) you said you believed a major Titan cement plant located in the county would be a “win-win” for the county, for the citizens, and for the industry. Here are a few reasons why I think your enthusiasm might be misplaced.
First, cement kilns are enormous energy hogs. They burn vast quantities of coal to fire the kilns to 3500 degrees F and require significant quantities of electricity to grind raw materials and rotate the kilns. Many often pad their revenue by adding waste products to their fuel stream. These products often include shredded tires, paper, wood debris, packing material, as well as materials classified as hazardous wastes, including paints, solvents, used oils, and other chemicals, making them de facto hazardous waste incinerators. They are major producers of sulfur dioxide and modest producers of nitrogen dioxide, two primary components of smog. They also produce large amounts of particulate matter, an air pollutant that causes haze and can have serious health impacts.
2. Cement kilns need a large local source of raw material, particularly limestone, so they are built near large quarry operations, with their associated dust, noise, off-road diesel exhaust, and large truck traffic.
3. Cement kilns are one of the nation’s largest industrial emitters of mercury, a powerful neurotoxin that can cause developmental problems in young children, newborns, and children in the womb. The industry has resisted efforts to install mercury controls on its plants in the U.S. Several lawsuits have been brought against the current EPA administrator for failing to reduce mercury emissions from cement kilns. After reporting on federal and state environmental regulators for nearly two decades now, I can assure you I place no faith in their ability to protect my children’s health, much less the environment.
4. In a study conducted last year by Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia Universities among others, Wilmington was cited as one of ten mid-sized southeastern cities projected to have increasingly poorer air quality from climate change induced warming alone. The study did not include the addition of a large cement kiln in New Hanover County that would be a major contributor to smog and particulate matter. That’s bad news for children, particularly those with asthma, the elderly, and anyone else with impaired lung function. This would be important for any community interested in attracting young families or older retirees.
5. Cement kilns are among the primary industrial emitters of carbon dioxide, second only to fossil-fuel burning electrical generation plants, and also significant emitters of methane–both potent greenhouse gases. Coastal North Carolina is among the most vulnerable areas in the United States to sea level rise from climate change. A recent study by researchers from Appalachian State, East Carolina, UNCW and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change Research estimated that more than $200 million in New Hanover County property could be lost due to inundation in future decades, in additions to millions in lost revenue from reduced recreation activities and increased storm damage. The study was based on 2007 IPCC projections of sea level rise of 15 to 24 inches by 2100, but even the IPCC now admits their estimate was far too conservative. Many scientist studying the issue believe sea level will rise at least a meter by then if not more, depending on how successful the world is in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing carbon emissions will take a global effort, but it will also take local efforts, such as requiring any new industry coming to the county to sequester its carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
I am not opposed to courting industry or good jobs, but I think before we use taxpayer money to do this we should take a cue from Hippocrates and first, do no harm. The best incentive we can offer any industry is clean air, clean water, great schools, and a fantastic quality of life for its managers and employees. I strongly suggest you reconsider your efforts to court this industry, until all the potential environmental impacts have been disclosed and the public has had ample opportunity to comment on this use of their tax dollars.
Sincerely,
Joel Bourne
References:
- Star News Article
- A quick summary of air pollutants the kilns produce
- A much longer and detailed report from USGS (relevant pages 29-40)
- An overview of particulate matter pollution
- Information on mercury lawsuits against EPA regarding cement kiln mercury emissions
- An overview of the air quality study including Wilmington
Yowza. Titan reminds me of the Daniel Day Lewis character in There Will Be Blood, and Wilmington is a stand-in for all the little towns he leaves in his wake. Promising jobs and prosperity for all, the deep-pocketed oil man instead delivers poor working conditions and environmental abuse in the name of modernization. There is prosperity, but mostly for him.
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The author of this post, Joe Bourne, is going to be handing out additional information about Titan and this issue at Earth Day, in Hugh McCrae Park, Saturday the 26th -ed.
Earth Day 2008
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Joel, I agree completely. I am a resident of Wilmington, and hold a degree in Geography, so I understand where you’re coming from.
I’m already against taxpayer-funded business incentives in principle. When you consider the hidden costs associated with this type of heavy industry, it seems completely absurd to encourage this type of development in our area.
I just can’t figure out whether our elected county officials are ignorant, corrupt, or both.
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Can someone — Joe, maybe — say where things actually stand with this matter?
The Star News article made it sound like this was fait accompli. What opportunity is there to “table” the incentives — or indeed the Titan encroachment?
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Don’t believe everything you read in the paper. The Titan plant is far from a done deal or a fait accompli. Though Titan has apparently already purchased the land in Castle Hayne, it must first get a slew of permits from the local office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who must conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement. They will need to get a 404 wetlands permit under the Clean Water Act for the their proposed destruction of 500 acres of wetlands, and a Section 10 permit under the Rivers and Harbors act since they will be located right on the Northeast Cape Fear River. They also must get a permit for their airborne emissions from EPA, as well as jump through other state agency hoops–NC Department of Environmental Quality, and perhaps Division of Marine Fisheries for the mercury impacts. This is a long, drawn out process that could be a short as 18 months, or take as long as three years and Titan’s plan for the site will likely change over the course of the process. Companies typically ask for more than they think they can get away with.
The first part of the EIS is called the scoping process. Sometime in June, the local Corps of Engineers office will issue a notice for a public scoping meeting. This is not where people stand up and say I’m for it, or I’m against it, but where the public tells the Corps what issues they want addressed in the EIS, such as: What impacts will this project have on smog in New Hanover County? Or How much mercury will this project emit into the atmosphere and surrounding watershed. Or How will this project affect truck traffic in the county? How will this project affect the health of children, adults, and the elderly? That sort of thing. Titan’s initial proposal is called “the preferred alternative.” But as the process moves forward, the Corps will come up with other alternatives based on input from the various agencies. One of these is usually a “no action” alternative (i.e. the permit for the plan as written is denied). There will likely be numerous public meetings as the EIS moves forward, and near the end of the process, a preferred alternative will be selected–could be Titan’s plan, could be the no action plan or a modified plan, based on what they uncover. But public participation via comments or speaking out at the public meetings is essential. This is a big project and it will be a long, drawn out process. But the best way to keep the plant from being built is through the EIS process. If they fail to get the permits, it doesn’t get built. After they get the permits, it will be a fait accompli. And we’ll be left with enforcing compliance with the regulations and/or the eventual multi-million-dollar clean-up of the site in 50 years— or until economic conditions or new carbon dioxide regulations no longer make it economically viable and Titan shuts it down. As an interesting aside, Titan is shutting down cement plants in Europe because of the EU’s tightening regulation on carbon emissions and expanding into countries will no carbon restrictions, such as the U.S. and the Middle East.
I can’t answer the question on the $4.2 million incentive package, since I’m more familiar with the EIS process than with the bylaws of New Hanover County. But I would guess that since the money won’t be paid out until the plant is up and running, then a new set of Commissioners could vote to withdraw the incentive plan. And it just so happens that three of the five commissioners are up for re-election this year, including two who voted for the incentives, Bill Kopp and Ted Davis. Nancy Pritchett is also up for re-election, but she voted against the package. Two challengers are vying for seats, Republican Jason Thompson and Democrat Jonathan Barfield. I don’t know the challengers’ position on the Titan issue–I intend to ask them–but if they oppose it and win, along with Pritchett, then a majority of the Commission might be able to rescind the incentive package. Again, I’m just guessing, but it sounds plausible, especially if there is enough voter sentiment out there over the issue. The first test will be the Republican Primary on May 6. If Thompson takes a strong stand on this, he could set himself apart from Kopp and Davis. Concerned Repuplicans should feel Thompson out on this.
But honestly, even though we’re in a combative election season, this isn’t a Republican vs. Democrat issue. We all have lungs that need fresh clean non-toxic air. Most of us have children we want to raise to a safe, healthy adulthood. We all like to catch and eat local fish and shellfish without worrying about mercury contamination. And there are plenty of thriving green businesses and entrepreneurs who would love an incentive to move to New Hanover County. If we don’t court the clean, green, industries of the future, then it looks like we’ll get stuck with the old dirty industries of the past. At least with our current County Commissioners.
Hope this helps,
JB
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wow, very thorough. thanks for the info JB, that sounds like good news that the Star News should’ve mentioned.
My understanding is that the Northeast Cape Fear already has some of the poorest water quality in the area.
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Newly formed Google discussion group “Say No To Titan Cement Incentives”:
http://groups.google.com/group/say-no-to-titan-cement-incentives?hl=en
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The new website stoptitan.org has lots of resources and information about Titan Cement and our area.
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I recently moved to Wilmington and was astonished this was even a thought on the table. This is a beautiful area and any type in industrial factory is going to cause mass pollutants. Which is turn is damaging the very beauty this town is trying to preserve, or so I thought. This is especially scary due to the lack of water supply for this growing area. I live in Leland-Brunswick Forest we have heard they know they don’t have enough water to go around and we are only 25% completed. I don’t even want to entertain the idea of this company to the “what if’s” when it comes to our drinking supply. I so NO to them coming to our town and I have been telling everyone I know to do the same!
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Curious if anyone can make more sense than I of whether any agenda items for the upcoming June 5 Planning Commission meeting may relate to the property Titan would use for their plant. See:
http://www.nhcgov.com/AgnAndDpt/PLNG/Documents/Agendas/2008%20Agendas/agen08_06_draft.pdf
and please comment. Thanks!
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Just saw this factoid in the Star News forums, where you, Lloyd, have raised the level of debate considerably:
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Titan watchers,
Not sure if the agenda item in front of the Planning commission relates to Titan, but I will try to find out. Their site on Ideal Cement Rd. off Holly Shelter road is right across from the current Martin Marietta aggregates site, which has already been purchased or optioned by Titan. It is the site of a former cement plant that closed in the early 1980s, leaving a brownfield behind. It’s been zoned industrial since that time, so there was no reason for rezoning, thus the Titan issue never came before the planning board. Since the 1970s of course, the population of the county has at least doubled, if not trebled, and much of that growth has occurred within ten miles of the plant in northern New Hanover and southern Pender Counties–think Hampstead, Porter’s Neck, Middle Sound Loop, etc. Three elementary schools are now located within five miles of the proposed plant, as is the new elementary school site on Sidbury Road. Titan’s permit application to the NC Div.. of Air Quality currently states they intend to burn only coal, pet coke, fuel oil and natural gas, but Titan officials have said they would leave open the option of burning old tires–a source of dioxins, furans, and other toxic nasties in the emissions. The sad thing is that a recent study by the University of Texas Health Science Center has, for the first time in peer-reviewed literature, found increased autism rates in children the closer they live to a mercury source, such as a cement kiln. I assume this is not one of the talking points the commissioners were given by their industrial recruiters or the Wilmington 100–whoever they may be.
JB
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The First Public Meeting about this project is going to be held at The Community Building in Hampstead (moved from library for more space). May 19th at 7:00pm. Call (910) 270-9549 for more information.
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I live in Cross Creek subdivision which is in Hampstead but it is very much Southern Pender County at Hwy 210W and Island Creek Drive. Our very large neighborhood backs up to Holly Shelter Rd. I would like to oppose it, if it is as bad as you say but I don’t know how to voice it. I would like infromation to give my neighbors. I know there was a meeting at the Hampstead Community Building last night May 19,2008 I wish I had known I would have gone. Did anyone know? I Remember Thermal Kem trying to make a home in Pender County but the Citizens of Pender formed and didn’t let it happen also known as COP. I know this isn’t in Pender but it will affect us.
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Laura - The website stoptitan.org is where the effort to stop titan is organized. There’s lots of information there, including facts about cement production, a calendar of events, and lots of other resources.
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I AM A LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF WILMINGTON..I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT
160 JOBS WHICH I’M SURE INCLUDES A LARGE PORTION OF HIS PEOPLE
WOULD SAVE CASTLE HAYNE FROM WHAT? WILMINGTON HAS NEVER
NEEDED HEAVY INDUSTRY TO COME IN AND POLLUTE OUR AIR WITH
POISONS…WE HAVE A GOD GIVEN ATTRACTION CALLED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN..
PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. AND EUROPE TO ENJOY WHAT WE
HAVE AS OUR INDUSTRY….IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN, TITAN COMES FROM GREECE
WHERE THE POLLUTION IS SO THICK THAT THE PARTHENON IS SLOWLY
DISINTIGRATING…SO BEFORE TITAN TALKS ABOUT CLEAN AIR IN CASTLE
HAYNE,HE SHOULD HELP CLEAN UP HIS OWN BACKYARD FIRST….WONDER
WHERE ALL THE EXECUTIVES IN GREECE LIVE? I’M SURE THEY LOCATED
VERY NEAR THE CEMENT PLANTS…YEA RIGHT…..KEEP IT UP CASTLE HAYNE..
SAY NO IN ENGLISH AND OHI (pronounced ) O-HEE IN GREEK….AND NOW I NEED
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ON MY DECK…
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Wow, Jackie, with that fervent ALL CAPS writing, I bet we’ll see you at the Commissioners meeting downtown tonight.
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In several states and over several years I have witnessed handfuls of meetings like the one that took place Monday night. I have heard the passionate outcries from concerned and often angry residents on one issue or another. And what surprises me is how the passion and interest and declarations of a more engaged citizenry crests at these meetings and then troughs at the polls.
Let’s take New Hanover County Commissioners as an example. Back in April Nancy Pritchett was the only commissioner voting against the Titan incentives in order to give more time to the issue. Then less than 20 days later, she was voted out of office.
By some people’s math, it takes roughly 1,700 single shot votes to make or break a board member on election day. So where were the angry and engaged citizens on May 5th? The Futch/Foy Creek contingency upset about NH Regional Hospital’s expansion? The RIver Road neighbors? The Super-Street resisters? The Hugo Neu sympathisers? (And now the TItan opponents.) 7,759 people voted for Ted Davis and 6,824 people voted for Bill Kopp last month. Was that you?
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Will this not effect property values? Who will want to buy our homes/land if there is a big fat pollution creating plant nearby? This SUCKS…….I SAY HELL NO!!!! Oh, and I also want to breathe, thank you very much.
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If you want to stop Titan, build the plant close to some of the Comissioners residence and it will be stopped. They don’t give a rip about the citizens of
this county. Their sole focus is Development, “They are developers”
“THEY NEED TO BE VOTED OUT”!!!!!
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Great article… and don’t forget the benefits that planting a tree will have on the environment. Each one will soak up 20kgs of CO2 every year and put enough Oxygen back in the atmosphere to support 2 people.
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What does our illustrious senator Julia Boseman have to say about the Titan Industry? I am sure that her response would be that she is “not” getting involved in local politics. That’s what she told the people in the Kings Grant area when asked for her help for their failing septic systems. Does she forget who put her in office ” The local voters” . The County Commissioners are developers, they do not represent the people nor do any other politician, once they get in office.
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I would invite any of you to visit Botetourt County where Titan has the only cement plant in Virginia. The Appalachian Trail runs through the property, which is used extensively by people from all over the world. I have lived less than 10 miles from this plant for over 40 years. It is rare that you ever hear a negative word about the plant in this small, close-knit community nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and very close to national forests. They considered burning tires in the 1980s, but due to public outcry, the idea was promptly dropped. The dust emissions seem to be well-controlled and there has been no detriment to the Catawba Creek which also flows through the property. I realize that like many heavy industries, there are villains, but Titan (in our area at least) seems to do a good job.
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Teresa Holler Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Wayne couldn’t be more wrong.
I moved from Wilmington to Botetourt County 4 years ago and worked as a physician assistant in cardiology. While there I was shocked by the number of young patients (particularly females) with heart disease. I had worked in Cardiology for a decade here in Wilmington and had never seen so many young women with heart failure. (Remember that heart disease is largely mediated by inflammation, and that mercury is known to cause inflammation).
Many of my heart patients had symptoms of undiagnosed Parkinson’s disease (also an environmental disorder related to a genetic weakness in removing mercury from the brain) that I was diagnosing Parkinson’s every week.
Moreover, I was struck by the number of women living in Botetourt County, who I knew personally, who suffered from an autoimmune disorder in their 30’s.
Finally, I became chronically ill while living there and finally decided to return to Wilmington where I have been feeling better and better. I don’t know what I will do if Titan opens another polluting plant here.
Titan will ABSOLUTELY make us sick!
Teresa
http://www.holler4health.com
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The incentives deal for Titan America is one of the big reasons why I am a candidate on the ballot for New Hanover County Commissioner. The preponderance of evidence suggests that Titan’s plans involve major implications for the region’s environment, transportation and emergency services infrastructure, as well as risks for the area’s most important economic drivers (tourism, retirement, real estate) exceeding the purported economic benefits.
All of these implications should have been carefully vetted and studied during the past couple years, and should have given officials pause. Instead, our elected officials never even asked these questions and wrote a taxpayer check made out to “Titan America LLC.”
My vision of “economic development” for the Cape Fear region is based on attracting businesses and individuals with an eye toward long-term, sustainable growth, and protecting the environment and quality of life for residents is an inherent part of this model.
I’m the only candidate on the ballot who truly intends to use the weight of public office and my full energy to fight Titan’s proposed project (based on available information). That was my evaluation based on other candidates’ actions as political officials and influencers, and that’s why I decided to run at the last minute.
As a final note for now, I am not only opposed to Titan’s deal, but seek to change the process that brought us to this point. This “economic development” process is flawed, outdated, and secretive and unless it changes, there will continue to be similar environmentally hazardous projects proposed and the same reactionary responses required.
The process won’t change until the people in office change, and this certainly sets me apart from any other candidate. I invite you to take a look at http://www.electberger.com, and encourage anyone with information to send it to me (I’m always trying to become better educated since I don’t have all the answers). I also welcome the support of anyone interested in helping out.
Let’s change business as usual in New Hanover County.
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Thanks, Brian - But how do you reconcile the need to fix broken processes, encourage sustainable growth, and protect the environment, as you say, with what I understand to be the Libertarians’ desire for little or no government oversight into these very kinds of things?
Under what auspices would “changing business as usual” come about??
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Good question Ian. There is substantial diversity among self-described libertarians when it comes to many policy matters. Just as not all Republicans or Democrats agree on every issue.
We should all think critically and not mindlessly carry the mantra of the “Party line.” It challenges certain perceptions I know, and its even hard for me to believe, but before I became a “Libertarian” I was a staunch Reagan-Goldwater Republican. And, brace yourself, here I am as the only candidate for New Hanover County Commissioner who will fight Titan’s $4.2 million bribe, and seek answers to the impact of the cement operation on the environment, traffic, health and long-term economic growth of the region.
Look beyond labels, and look at each candidate, what they stand for, and respective records on environmental, infrastructure and corporate welfare issues, and you will find that I’m the only candidate for New Hanover County Commissioner who really intends to fight this. In this, I stand alone.
I hope you’ll visit http://www.electberger.com and consider volunteering to assist me in reversing this irresponsible lapse of judgement by our elected officials. If you feel as strongly as I do, I want and need your help in this uphill battle.
BB
“The environment is better protected under private property rights …. We as property owners can’t violate our neighbors’ property. We can’t pollute their air or their water. We can’t dump our garbage on their property …. Too often, conservatives and libertarians fall short on defending environmental concerns, and they resort to saying, ‘Well, let’s turn it over to the EPA. The EPA will take care of us …. We can divvy up the permits that allow you to pollute.’ So I don’t particularly like that method.”
–Ron Paul, Two-time U.S. Presidential Candidate (Libertarian and Republican), Congressman (R-TX)
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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.
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It seems we are going to have to turn to our state officials for help in this matter. Julia Boseman has voiced her objections to locating Titan in the proposed location and I applaud her position. All concerned citizens need to contact their state elected officials and ask that a State Taskforce composed of members of DENR and other appropriate entities review the situation thoroughly . When one considers the potential impact on:
• Human Health
• A pristine section of our river flora & fauna, as well as surrounding land
• Our aquifer and future water supply for our residents
• Air Quality
• Negative effect on future residents and tourism
It becomes obvious that Titan should not be allowed to build this plant simply by virtue of the fact that there is no current zoning law against it.
To identify legislators and contact them, go to the following website and on the “site map” click on either Senate or House. http://www.ncleg.net/homePage.pl
To quote a country western song, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
Dave Thomas
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Another couple of great groups that you may want to contact and try to team up with would be OCEANA, they can be found at oceana.org as well as the Coastal Conservation Association and they can be found at joincce.org
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Brian Berger, your consistency regarding Titan is commendable — I see that the new campaign slogan on your lawn signs is “Stop Titan” — but I wonder whether we shouldn’t characterize your position as “Stop government incentives and subsidization of Titan Cement”.
From what I’ve read of your positions — and (again) what I infer of the basic position of libertarians about government and enterprise — I wonder what you would say to an un-’incented’ Titan Cement plan in the Castle Hayne area (?)
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Ian,
As you know, the Titan Cement issue is complex and multifaceted. Philosophically, I don’t support incentives, I’m even more opposed when the benefit is questionable at best, and I’m just dumbfounded when (as in the case of Titan Cement) the benefits are questionable and the potential harm is significant.
It’s still not clear exactly the extent of the harm to the environment, wetlands, and infrastructure (ie road congestion, fire and ems, etc..), and it might be impossible to measure the future economic losses resulting from the plant (such as detering other businesses from locating here, decreased property values, etc). In three years of secret meetings, elected officials should have been researching these questions before rolling out the red carpet for Titan at taxpayer expense.
In reality, Titan wanted to come here regardless of the incentives. They don’t need the money, what they need is what the incentives deal represents: Evidence for state and federal regulators that the community WANTS and WELCOMES Titan, and therefore, regulators should not interfere in a local decision supported be elected officials and the community to such an extent that the community is PAYING them to locate in it.
It’s disingenuous when elected officials say “leave it to the regulators” when they know the incentives deal they approved will likely influence the regulatory action they say we can depend on to protect us from any potential harm.
So rescinding the incentives deal is just one step I’m proposing. To date, no other candidate has pledged to rescind the incentives deal even though the Star-News article indicated Barfield would go along. He has not committed to doing so and has sent mixed messages on his position on Titan just within the past week.
We also need to change the “economic development” process that is secretive, flawed and outdated. Its absurd that meetings were held for three years to cement this deal, yet nobody involved (the County Commission, Wilmington City Council, Realtors Association, Wilmington Star-News, UNCW, etc…under the “Committee of 100″) bothered to research any of these issues associated with Titan moving in to the County. It’s clear we need to change this process and also clear that nobody involved (which includes the four other candidates for the County Commission) shares these priorities or concerns and bothered to ask questions or seek answers until after they signed a contract, and only because there’s an election coming up. So another vital measure is changing the process and the people behind these decisions.
The economy is hurting now, but Titan is not the answer, its likely to make matters worse and jeopardize the long-term economic growth of the Cape Fear region. We need people in public office who understand the role the environment plays in the economy and if for no other reason, protecting the environment should be a higher priority. The record of our officials when it comes to the environment is…well…it speaks for itself.
I won’t go into all the policies affecting the environment that could use some wise reforms, but I’ve identified a handful to begin addressing the moment I take office. Even incremental changes in some of these areas would have positive benefits and not create onerous regulatory burdens for local businesses. Speaking of which, there is much effective ways to help our local economy than offering millions to foreign companies promising few jobs. Helping small businesses by reducing taxes would be a great place to start - enabling these businesses to hire more employees and increase pay for current employees.
Does that answer your question Ian?
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