CFRW’s Position on Titan
Cape Fear River Watch
Position Statement Summary
Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin through education, advocacy, and action. With this mission in mind, we have carefully considered and evaluated the potential impacts associated with Carolina Cement Company’s (Titan America) plans to develop a cement plant and mining operation here in New Hanover County. Unfortunately we have learned that this proposed industry, which would be situated along the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear, would undoubtedly cause irreplaceable harm to the important natural resources in and around the plant. Therefore, CFRW has taken a position strongly against the development of this project as it is proposed.
The natural communities in and around the Northeast Cape Fear River in proximity to the proposed cement production facility are widely considered to be pristine. These communities include vast wetlands, habitats for threatened species, and prime fishing and recreation areas. CFRW is specifically concerned about the following environmental impacts that would be encountered if this plant to be built:
· The destruction of up to 600 acres of pristine wetlands, which the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish & Wildlife has referred to as a “Resource of National Importance” in their initial comments to the Corp of Engineers. They have agreed with our position that these wetlands aren non-replaceable by indicating that the “impact to these resources may be unmitigable.”
· The contamination of air and water quality due to emissions of high levels of mercury, Chromium-VI, and other pollutants into waters that are already declared mercury impaired on the Federal 303d list.
· Dewatering and depletion of the aquifer due to the mining of limestone and the potential to contaminate the aquifers through salt water intrusion or the quarrying process.
· The direct discharge of sediment and contaminants into the Northeast Cape Fear River.
We have developed the enclosed in-depth statement that outlines in great detail the concerns we have with the development of the Titan America plant. It is extremely important that we do not allow Titan America to bring the pollution and destruction of natural resources associated with their industry to the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Thank you for your interest in this matter. Feel free to contact me to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Doug Springer
Cape Fear River Watch Executive Director
RiverKeeper
Click HERE for the full position statement
Big Doings at Greenfield Lake
2008 Greenfield Lake Cypress Festival
Greenfield Lake has long been Wilmington’s hidden ecological jewel – a wonderful and convenient cypress ecosystem that most people have driven past but never really explored. That needs to change.
To that end Cape Fear River Watch is sponsoring the First Annual Greenfield Lake Cypress Festival on Saturday, October 11th. This will be an all day event at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater featuring live music, displays by various local environmentally minded organizations, an eco-treasure hunt, pirate storytelling, cypress walks, food and beverages, discounted paddle boat rides and who knows what else.
Individual tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the gate. Family pack tickets are $20 in advance or $25 day of show.
If you’d like to attend, exhibit, perform, volunteer or just ask some questions, check out the festival’s very own myspace page and then call Joe Abbate at 910-200-4002.
Name the Boat
Cape Fear River Watch is now the proud owner of a new (to us) non-emitting, battery powered, electric excursion boat on Greenfield Lake. This will be a big step up in both comfort and capacity from the big red electric canoe CFRW has been using to conduct tours of the lake. The boat still needs a few upgrades/fixes before it’s ready for passengers (little things like seats and extra battery capacity need to be added) but it will soon be cleanly and silently plying the waters of Wilmington’s urban cypress eco-system taking passengers in search of migrating waterfowl, big ‘gators, ancient trees or photogenic scenes, depending on the tour and the time of year.
What the boat needs next is a name. So we’re announcing our first ever “Name the Electric Boat” contest. Kids under 16 are invited to send in their suggestions for the new boat’s name. The name should suggest Greenfield’s alligators. The winner will receive a free Greenfield Lake Gator Tour for up to 6 guests. The winning entry will be chosen by the RIVERKEEPER and announced at the Cypress Festival. Send your entries to nametheboat@cfrw.us.
Everybody’s Talking Titan
Concern about the planned Titan America Cement Plant and Limestone Quarry on the Northeast Cape Fear River is spreading. If you haven’t already seen/read/heard the following stories are recommended:
Mercury Rising by Keith Barber in the September 2008 issue of Wrightsville Beach Magazine
Titan Site Tagged Aquatic Resource of National Importance by Marina Giovannelli on WHQR
Titan No Show, Forum Goes On by Keith Barber in Lumina News
Cement Company Eyes Pender by Amanda Hutcheson in Topsail Voice
