Carolinas Cement Company, a subsidiary of Titan America LLC, held its second public workshop about the impact of the proposed cement plant in Castle Hayne.
The event was not as well attended as the first workshop, which drew more than 180 people, but a small crowd was on hand to ask questions about cement manufacturing and the potential impact of the plant on the environmentally sensitive area where its construction is planned. Seven informational stations were set up in Cape Fear Community College’s Schwartz Center, addressing the themes of economic impact, employment opportunities, environmental stewardship, the permitting process, the company’s history, cement production and community involvement.
Dr. Rick Pleus, a toxicologist for Intertox, a scientific consulting and research firm based in Seattle, said the company is conducting a human health toxicological risk assessment to determine whether the plant would pose a threat to human health. Pleus said he has more than 20 years of experience conducting such risk assessments. He did not provide a specific time frame for completion of the study.
In terms of permitting, the company expects it will receive its air permit, if approved by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, by January 2009. The process for the required wetlands permit could take as long as two years.
If approved, the plant could be up and running in 2012 and would produce 2.4 million tons of cement annually at full capacity.
The Castle Hayne site was chosen for its access to rail service, interstate highways and limestone, but residents of the area and environmental organizations such as the North Carolina Coastal Federation have opposed the plan due to the sensitive nature of the wetlands surrounding the site. In addition to its proximity to wetlands, the plant would be within a 5-mile radius of several schools.
An economic incentives package totaling $4.2 million has been approved by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, and the company has also received incentives from the state of North Carolina.
As part of its efforts to promote stewardship and community involvement, the company displayed Pinky, a pink concrete mixer truck that is used in daily concrete delivery operations in the Hampton Roads, Va., area to support breast cancer awareness.
The third and final scheduled public workshop hosted by Carolinas Cement Company will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Executive Development Center on Military Cutoff Road.
