The Seahawk

Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Amber Hughes | THE SEAHAWK Local Wilmington residents protest the construction of the Castle Hayne cement plant on Oct. 27.

Controversial concerns for the building of Carolinas Cement Co. that would operate the Castle Hayne plant continued Monday as approximately 100 protestors stood outside of the UNCW Executive Development Center during Titan's final informative public workshop. On April 21, 2008, the New Hanover County Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to offer $4.2 million to Titan Cement to build on the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River. This plant, expected to extend to over 600 acres of wetlands, remains in the proposal phase of development and expects up to an 18-month approval period.

Representatives of Carolina Cement Co. gathered at the workshop to inform residents of the 160-plus job opportunities following the building of the plant. They provided Q&A pamphlets describing the differences between cement and concrete, as well as the scientific process of how cement is made. Representatives expressed that New Hanover County offers one of the few locations for high limestone deposits, one of the primary substances used to make cement.

With a preexisting plant, the company maintains complete ownership over the proposed building grounds. Pointing out the floor plans, Carolina Cement representative Kimley Horn emphasized that because it is a specific industrial zone, "we are just expanding what's already there."

But with 16 steps in the permit process, and the pending health approval by the Army Corps of Engineers, Carolina Cement has a ways to go.

Rick Pleus, a toxicologist with Intertox, explained the Army Corps of Engineers' responsibility of assessing the potential health concerns linked to the development of a cement plant in Castle Hayne. Because of the high mercury emissions caused by the making of cement, engineers must follow a structured, analytical process to determine the risks on human health. "We call it a multi-pathway," said Pleus. "There are three ways by which humans are exposed to environmental pollution-through eating, breathing, or skin absorption."

Once this analysis is conducted, the results in the form of a peer-reviewed article will be released to the public.

But with these health concerns still pending, students at UNCW collaborate with residents in New Hanover County to form protesting groups who are working to stop what they foresee as one of the "worst industrial polluters on the planet."

Braving the busy Military Cutoff at rush hour, protestors of all ages stood on the sidewalk in front of the development center waving signs that read "Stop Titan" and "Polluted Air and Water Remains Forever!" Most of the signs can be credited to Wilmington residents Joul Bourne and Kelly Stryker, founders of Stoptitan.org and core collaborators with UNCW's Environmental Concerns Organization on campus.

According to David Pinsky, treasurer of ECO, Bourne and Stryker began their campaign against Titan in late April. Along with their Web site, Bourne and Stryker have been coordinating with UNCW's ECO and residents in New Hanover County to raise awareness of the toxic dangers a cement plant could cause to human health. "Concrete gives off 5 percent CO2 emissions and up to 263 lbs of mercury emissions" said Pinsky. Because of the preexisting plant, significant amounts of mercury have been found in the Cape Fear River. "There is a high possibility for saltwater contamination," Pinsky said, "and mercury stays in our systems forever." Existing as a neurotoxin, Pinksy also noted that areas of high mercury emission have been linked to Autism, which is another main concern for the organization.

Awareness initiatives include setting up tables on campus to educate faculty, staff, students and residents of the community.

Pinksy emphasized the group's stance against Titan is far from over, saying "All of the evidence points to no." Feeling that there needs to be a time where county officials are held accountable for their actions, Pensky further expresses that "constituents need to have an equal voice, and that voice has yet to be given."

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