A young girl protests Titan Cement outside of the
Division of Air Quality permit hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Acknowledging a shaken confidence in state government, Gov. Bev Perdue responded Tuesday to an influential political watchdog, saying it was time to take steps that will rebuild public trust.
“I remain committed to making sure our government operates with the highest standards of ethics and transparency,” Perdue said. “My administration is already working on several steps that can be taken either through executive order or legislations.”
Perdue’s remarks were prompted by Joe Sinsheimer, a top political strategist and watchdog based out of Raleigh.
In a letter to the governor on Wednesday, Nov. 18, Sinsheimer urged Perdue to take “immediate steps” to restore public confidence, especially since a wave of mistrust has marred North Carolina ever since the investigation into former Gov. Mike Easley’s alleged campaign violations.
Perdue said her staff has begun work on a series of executive orders that will raise the ethical standards for officials serving on state boards and committees.
She also reassured Sinsheimer that her staff is “exploring policies to remove any gubernatorial appointee who is indicted or who fails to cooperate with an investigation.”
As part of her reply, Perdue said she had forwarded Sinsheimer’s letter to the State Bureau of Investigation to determine whether an inquiry into Titan America’s dealings with top state officials is warranted.
Sinsheimer’s calls included a recommendation that the attorney general probe Titan America’s permitting process to date—work that has put plans in motion for the company to build a cement plant in New Hanover County.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, Perdue was quoted in the Washington Daily News as saying: “I have asked the attorney general’s office, the SBI, to see if there was any kind of—I don’t know the word, I’m not a lawyer—if there was anything that wasn’t above-board in the decision making, and I believe they will.”
Sinsheimer’s earlier remarks were highly publicized, and are reported to have flooded the governor’s office with calls from Titan opponents asking for similar actions.
In response, top Titan officials have issued statements ensuring that its dealings were always legal and transparent.
Emotions regarding Titan’s prospects in New Hanover County have been running high ever since the NC Division of Air Quality issued the company a draft air permit in September.
The public reacted by sending the division more than 1,000 emails requesting a public hearing on the issuance of Titan’s final air permit—one of many permits required before the company can begin construction as planned along the Cape Fear River, said division spokesman Tom Mather.
The division held a hearing on Oct. 20, where 160 people gave comments both for and against the permit, officials said.
A comment period continued until Friday, Nov. 20, during which time the public was invited to submit written statements for consideration.
Division officials declined to estimate how many comments they had received, saying that they were trying to funnel them all to one location to process.
“I can say with 100 percent certainty that the state’s handling of the air permitting process for Titan America’s proposed cement plant in Castle Hayne has been comprehensive, transparent and exhaustive in its attention to detail,” Bob Odom, general manager for Carolinas Cement, Titan’s parent company, said in a statement Tuesday, Nov. 24.
“The State of North Carolina spent 18 months processing the application with studies and input from numerous groups before issuing a draft air permit,” he added. “It may well be the most carefully examined permit application ever issued by the state.”
Kate McClain, a spokeswoman for Titan, addressed Sinsheimer’s earlier remarks on Thursday, Nov. 19, saying: “I can tell you that Titan’s involvement has never been anything but the most appropriate behavior...We follow the process to the letter of the law. We have all along and will continue to do so.”
Still, any investigation will likely strengthen company opponents as a deal moves forward.
Perdue’s recent actions could be viewed as a positive step in the eyes of Titan opponents, who have repeatedly expressed concern that the governor’s office has bowed to political pressure during the matter.
