SELC leading the charge on Titan case

One of the organization's I'm most proud to support is the Southern Environmental Law Center. Their lawyers are working on behalf of the NC Coastal Federation and Cape Fear River Watch to hold our state's policy makers accountable for their irresponsible permitting of this mega-polluter. Here's the story from the SELC website.

Citizens of North Carolina are paying $4.5 million to bring this company to the state and will endure the public health and environmental consequences of the plant’s pollution for decades; they deserve to know what they’re buying before Titan starts building,” said Geoff Gisler, attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center.

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“The state should not be splitting hairs on whether or not SEPA applies to this project,” said Mike Giles, Cape Fear COASTKEEPER, N.C. Coastal Federation. “The public deserves to know how this project would affect their health and environment before our government moves forward. In 2008, the state correctly determined SEPA applied; that was the right choice for citizens of North Carolina then, and it’s the right choice now.”

The state and New Hanover County, where the cement kiln and mine will be located, awarded Titan America $300,000 and $4.2 million respectively in support of the project.

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North Carolina already lists the adjacent Northeast Cape Fear River as impaired by mercury contamination. As a ‘blackwater river,’ it constitutes an ecosystem that a recent U.S. Geological Survey study found to be particularly vulnerable to mercury contamination.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight percent of American women of childbearing age have mercury in their bodies at levels high enough to put their babies at risk of birth defects, loss of IQ, learning disabilities and developmental problems. Toxic mercury accumulates in people and wildlife that breathe contaminated air and eat contaminated fish.

If you want to be Santa for a good cause this Christmas, I'm sure the folks at SELC would appreciate whatever you're able to contribute.