By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Residents with signs and petitions packed New Hanover County Commissioner chambers last night and groaned as Titan America officials told commissioners that its proposed cement plant in Castle Hayne will become a point of pride in the community.
An estimated 300 residents jam-packed commissioner chambers overflowing out the doors. Their main concern: the impact of pollutants on the environment and children.
Scott Satterfield is Chief Executive Officer for Wilmington Industrial Development and worked for three years to bring Titan to the region. He says he'll stand behind the cement plant as long as it meets state and federal standards.
"If the regulators decide that it doesn't fit in our area, then that would disway us, certainly. It's a long process, a couple years of very lengthy permitting, there will also be time for an immense amount of public comment."
Titan executives assured commissioners and residents that all the water used will be recycled and not discharged into the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Commissioner Bill Kopp pledged to monitor Titan's progress through the permitting progress.
Titan also assuaged commissioners that it ill not discharge cement film dust into the environment. Joel Bourne is with the citizen group Stop Titan and is concerned with whether the cement industry is tightly regulated. He says he hopes commissioners will listen to residents and reconsider the project
"You know, when I see 300 people moms, dads, kids taking time from their busy lives coming here letting commissioners know of their concerns, yeah, I have great hope. I'm a firm believer that democracy works."
Bourne says his group is working to get state lawmakers involved.
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