Titan Cement Plant update

For a short time yesterday, the proposed Titan Cement Plant in Castle Hayne appeared to have gained an ally. A news release was sent to WWAY and other local media indicating the Castle Hayne Steering Committee supports the Carolinas Cement Project. But according to members of the committee, that is not the case.

Steve Gause has been a member of the Castle Hayne Steering Committee for 5 years. He is concerned about a news release sent to the media this week, by the public relations company representing Titan America.

Eight Castle Hayne residents, 5 of them members of the Steering Committee, visited Titan’s Roanoke, Virginia plant last month. Gause called it a ‘fact finding mission.’ Committee Chair, Tom Radewicz wrote a letter about his experience.

“He was reporting back to our Steering Committee what he found as to help us make a determination as to what our next step should be,” said Gause.

Gause went on to say, “Then what happened was Titan got a hold of this document and read it to be a vote of the Steering Committee which it was not. The Steering Committee has not voted to support or not support.”

This contradicts the headline on the news release, which indicates the committee supports Titan moving in.

Gause said a vote on the issue of support or opposition of the plant may be called for during a meeting Monday night.

The Castle Hayne Steering Committee worked with Titan to draft a revised news release. WWAY received it earlier today. It clarifies that the committee does not officially support or oppose the plant. It does note the fact finding group found Titan to have a ‘genuine interest in maintaining a quality operation.’