Are you happy that the state approved an air quality permit for Titan Cement to build a new plant in Castle Hayne?

The current population of NH County is approximately 203,000 people. The current unemployment rate is approximately 10% or 20,334 people. If Titan is the answer to our unemployment problems with 160 jobs, Then we need Titan and 127 more plants just like it to fix the unemployment problem. We can just line the river with these plants. With 12,399,932 lbs of new airborne pollution per plant per year, that would equal 1,587,191,296 lbs of new airborne pollution per year with all these new economy saving jobs. 128 new plants X 160 new jobs per plant equals 20,480 new jobs. Divide 1,587,191,296 lbs of pollution per year by 20,480 new jobs equals 77,499 lbs of new airborne pollution per job per year. This number is the same for 1 new plant or the 128 plants it would take to solve the unemployment problem in our area. This is only for New Hanover County, does not take into consideration Pender or Brunswick Counties. Is adding 77,499 lbs of new airborne pollution per job each and every year worth these jobs? I guess Titan has come up with a way for people to work without breathing.

The Wilmington Industrial Development group (or whatever they want to call themselves) have done us all a great service. Where is your sense of appreciation for the history of positive growth and opportunity that the 100 have provided to the area? Without their influence... where would we be? Imagine our region without this dedication to industry, development, and jobs over the years. Problem is this group of influential bankers, insurance salesmen, realtors, and politicians have seriously miscalculated on this effort. I'm afraid the limited exposure to the groundswell of opinion (much of it solidly grounded in sound thinking and not typical hysteria)is handicapping the 100 from making basic strategic decisions. This is good. My grandfather used to say that evil exposes itself - and that guarantees it's defeat. So now we have many who see the lies... the question remains, are there enough with influence to avoid the stupidity of selling out to influence once again?

Who (Public Officials) are pushing for Titan to be located here in Wilmington ???.

Titan's not coming. This is not their community. These are not their children. The 17 waterways that have been designated "impaired" by the division of water quality that will not have small bare legs swishing around in them this summer nor fishermen casting their lines in them ARE NOT THEIR waterways. And the most toxic air in the state that WE, the citizens of this county, breathe in and out everyday is not theirs to add 12 more MILLION pounds of toxic emissions into. It's ours!

THE PEOPLE OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY DO NOT WANT YOU HERE TITAN AND WE WILL NOT PERMIT YOU TO BE HERE. We've had enough. Find another home. This is ours and we simply don't have the capacity for you. We're already filled up and gasping for clean air.

The bottom line is we deserve better than Titan Cement.
The record and the facts show that they are not an honest company.
The pollution that comes with them is too much....any more pollution here is
TOO much. It's very disconcerting that ALL of our elected officials aren't trying, willing or
able to do something to stop this nonsense. The extra jobs that might come with them
are not worth jeopardizing the health of our citizens, and don't be fooled, chances are they
will all be transfers from other Titan locations. We are looking at more pollution, more traffic,
deterioration of our natural resources, etc....and all within a few miles of our public schools.
REALLY??
Kim Beller

You folks yelling about the environment - sell your polluting fossil fuel burning vehicles, buy bicycles to get around, and cancel your electricity service. No? I didn't think so. I wish you would practice what you preach. Put up or shut up.

Selling our land, water, air, health, lives impacting thousands for generations for a few promised and temporary jobs for a huge global conglomerate that can move. --It's all been said over and over. Now people just have to listen and do the correct thing. It's obvious the Dept. of Air Quality has not listened nor done what is best for the people of New Hanover County.

in my opinion, the few jobs that we are told will be created do not justify the damage by far that this plant will cause our region. If we can make Wilmington more inviting for clean industries (e.g., knowledge-/information technology-based) many more jobs could be created and the quality of living would improve for all. I really hope that this plant will not be built here.

I think it is important to note that while Titan has received the approval of the state, this approval only limits the amount of pollution being expelled into our air and water. Even if Titan adheres to these standards, they will still be allowed to pollute, just not as much as they could otherwise. This simply delays the destruction of our already dirty air space and fragile water table. I don't know specific numbers, but I am confident in saying that 160ish jobs is not going to make a big dent in our unemployment numbers. Meanwhile, over the next 5, 10 or 15 years we stand to lose the natural beauty that has been a draw to visitors and a comfort to residents. The question is, do we compromise and allow big business to come into our community and trash it? Or do we say NO and heed the words of environmentalists, doctors, teachers, and parents who wish to protect our families and our community?

Follow the money trail. Martin Marietta, Badham family holdings, Titan America, Carolinas Cement Company. There you will find the answers of deceit. Still , I would like to know what the median income would be for an employee of Titan . That my freinds is an answer they will not give. What kind of permitting is required if ( and they will) burn alternative sources of fuel. Like tires.If true journalism exists anymore, then the majority of the questions will be answered. But then, the money again...what it will buy!

What a biased poll! We do need more jobs, but not at the cost of stifling more innovative companies from moving into the area. As for the environment, Titan will most likely comply with all state and federal standards and there will be nothing the people of New Hanover County can do about it but gripe and moan. Local media should report on the real issue at hand and that is the old money families telling the citizens what is best for them. Industry may be our heritage, but it is not our future. We can be proud of our past without letting it hinder progression. The environment is an important factor and so is human health. If you want to hit them where it hurts, then make the argument that those "manufacturing" jobs that everyone is talking about are gone and that we need to build a new economy based on services. It is services that create, manufacture and deliver new products.

Of all the "new money" it will bring to the area 99% of it will go to one or two people running the plant. Those same executives have already spent hundreds of thousands lining the pockets of the N.C. Department of Air Quality in order to get those permits. the level of corruption in our government makes me sick.

Titan will provide tax base to our county, state and federal government. That really is what is under the cloak.
Pollution takes a while to cause damage and they really dont care about the dangers, be they immediate or long term.
How many studies does it take to show New Hanover County is highly polluted and our kids and elderly suffer from this?
Yes, jobs are needed but the level of them from Titan is minimal or are lower paying jobs, while Titan stuffs the local and state coffers with taxes they dont mind paying a little penalty for pollution...a mere cost of business and slap on the wrist. We all have an obligation to protect this area of waterlands and ocean area.
Titan is about making money, no matter the danger. The comparison of Roanoke area Titan plant to ours isnt valid due to different geographical elements already well explained. We, the taxpapers will be the ones paying dearly for the MORE polluted enviroment. We bought our homes here only to be stuck in a mess of ignorant biased politicians who refuse to admit to our right to clean air. Can we move out when it gets to be too much? Not easily if at all given the economy and who wants to buy into the second most highly polluted area in ths state of NC? Pollution is the lazy mans way of business; lets not go that route any more!!

I find this whole jobs versus the environment thing annoying ~ as if we have to choose one or the other. Truth is, if our environment goes to hell, and we go with it, there will ultimately be no jobs.

So sick of this I cannot believe Our state seriously cosiders bringing this company in here

NO MORE .......PERMITS TO POLUTE !I bet Whole foods comming to town will employ more people than titan. they will bring in thier own people and hire unskilled labor here.

I moved to Wilmington from Michigan in July for the beaches, restaurants, and the people. I did not know how bad the air already is here. I am really unhappy about this and would love to know what can be done to improve this? If this plant opens, I'm out of here! Glad I'm renting! I will not buy a home here until this thing is settled. I want to see a story or two about towns with existing Titan plants and see what they think. My advise... go to Georgetown, SC to see how a paper plant can ruin a great town and make it smell like chemicals and mulch everywhere!

I think that those are really bad questions because it makes it only about jobs and the environment and Titan would affect so much more than the both of those. If you are going to attach reasons to the "Yes" and "No" then you should add on all the reasons or leave room to add your own reasons.

I'm against Titan for many more reasons than just the protection of the environment. I am also against them for the negative effect that it is going to have on the health of the community, the bad business practices that they have been showing in the community such as the law suits that they filed against community members who spoke out in a public hearing, and so much more!

Because that's what those in power want us to think! We don't actually have to choose...we can have jobs and a clean environment, and in reality the only way we can move forward is to start thinking synergistically!

I have small children who will grow up breathing this stuff! Had no idea when I moved here that New Hanover County was 2nd smallest and 2nd most polluted county in NC. I don't live in Castle Hayne, but my house and my children's school is only about 10 miles from where the titan plant would be. I feel for anyone who needs a job and thinks Titan will give them one, but do these people want their kids breathing pollution either? Of course not. That isn't a fair trade for a job. Instead, we need to insist that our politicians develop RESPONSIBLY. To think that the only way to grow is to sacrifice our air, water, and health is just short sighted.

This company's history of environmental catastrophe started, for me, back in the '80's when theVulcan group, sent a plume of suspension that blanketed the Florida Keyes, from their DouthAmerican mining operation.

It is unbelievable to me that this is even a question. Everyone is aware of the current strain on the local estuaries and ecosystems, yet our leadership does not seem to care. What is happening is the old story of money and time. The local people get exhausted and apathetic over a protracted period of time during which Titan is patiently spending and staying on task to get their way. Don’t get me wrong, I like concrete and understand its value. However, there has got to be a way to provide the product and not harm the social and natural environment. I live in the immediate area of the proposed plant and can tell you that we already deal with large sink holes (big enough to allow vehicles to fall into) due to the current level of mining. These mines are taking millions of gallons of water from the aquifer per day exacerbating the existing drought conditions and causing the sink holes for miles around. The Titan project will only increase this activity. What ever happen to independent journalistic research? Why is the local press espousing only the positive and ignoring the dangerous side of this story? Do we have an independent press in New Hanover County? Email me, I have a great deal in independent data that I am happy to share. Better yet, ride with me to the Titan plant in Florida and let's spend a few days talking to the folks who are already living with the consequences.

It should be clear that this fight is not about the welfare of the planet, its about american greed.

Yes, we need new jobs locally! But NO, I am far from happy that our state approved an air quality permit for Titan. There has to be another solution to bring long term jobs to the area. Titan is NOT the answer.