Concerns over Titan plant continue

Talks continue about the potential of a Titan Cement plant coming to Castle Hayne, and so do the concerns.

Titan America has applied for an air quality permit to begin construction on the proposed cement plant. State Representative Carolyn Justice and State Senator Julia Boseman are asking the Division of Air Quality to postpone that permit until all environmental impact studies are evaluated and made public.

This comes after a citizen’s group has raised concerns about possible negative health effects from the plant. Representative Justice said issuing permits before knowing the impact Titan will have on the community, is violating the public’s trust.

The Environmental Protection Agency is about to do a review of its standards that could tighten permitting regulations.

Titan released a statement saying, ‘before we can construct our facility, we must prove to state and federal agencies that we will operate a safe facility that will not cause harm to members of our community.’

Justice said, “This decision to sort of move fast on this draft permit, I think takes away people’s faith in the system that has followed the process; it almost jump starts something as citizens feel like North Carolina is a little more concerned about Titan than they are about them.”