Mercury problems in the Cape Fear River

Submitted by James on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 1:13pm

I'm all in favor of new jobs, but not if they come at the expense of poisoning rivers.

The river near a proposed cement plant in New Hanover County can't tolerate any more mercury pollution, state officials say, a judgment that could block the controversial factory from opening.

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The state environmental agency is considering permits for the plant planned for Castle Hayne near the already mercury-tainted Northeast Cape Fear River. The factory built by Titan America would produce a number of pollutants, including mercury.

In a Jan. 4 letter to state air quality chief Keith Overcash, the head of the state water quality office said federal clean water laws would prohibit the state from letting a new source of mercury pollution flow into an already contaminated river.

Hat tip to the North Carolina Sierra Club Facebook page.

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Thank goodness this story is getting out

Submitted by James on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 1:16pm.

If you're of a mind, send a note to the Governor suggesting that there are many ways to encourage job growth that don't involve poisoning the environment.

Here's the form.

Do good. Be nice. Have fun.

You beat me to it

Submitted by scharrison on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 2:22pm.

I've been scouring the EPA site to see if (and where) regulations cross over between air and water, in response to this comment from Keith Overcash:

Overcash, who asked Sullins for information about mercury pollution, said his office would take the letter under consideration, but the information does not disqualify Titan from getting air permits. The plant must meet limits for pollution discharges to water and air, but the federal regulation that affects the Northeast Cape Fear deals with wastewater, not pollution from a smokestack.

"There's no real tie between discharge and air emissions," Overcash said. "It appears to me that Titan won't be able to get a discharge permit that has mercury."

Maybe not, but there is definitely a tie between air emissions and accumulation of mercury and other contaminants in water sources.

It would sure be nice if Keith gave the title and/or numbers for the regulation to which he refers, instead of just summarizing like that.

I did find this, though,

Submitted by scharrison on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 2:35pm.

which seems almost tailored to Keith's comment:

EPA, the states, and other stakeholders have been working to determine how best to address waters impaired by mercury, particularly where the primary source of the mercury is atmospheric deposition. To date, over 8,500 water bodies in 43 states and Puerto Rico are listed under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as impaired due to mercury. State water programs have tools for addressing mercury discharges from water sources under the Clean Water Act, but they need to work closely with their air, waste, and toxics programs to address other sources of mercury.

Yes, they do.

The only way Titan will be stopped is if the State won't

Submitted by Stan on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 2:59pm.

give them a permit. The New Hanover County Commissioners created this monster and aren't backing down no matter what the public says or what the evidence is about environmental impact. They see $$$$ and that's it.

Stan Bozarth

Source of Mercury

Submitted by bobdurivage on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 7:00am.

Other than burning coal, is there another source of mercury from concrete plants? I've heard that concrete plants use toxic waste to make concrete. If so, this should be addressed. As for coal, burn agricultural waste instead. Burn human waste. Burn invasive species. Burn algae.

bob durivage

Portland-style cement plants

Submitted by scharrison on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 12:31pm.

are messy all around.

In addition to the mercury emitted from coal-burning, the production of the limestone clinker itself emits mercury, the amount dependent upon the makeup of the limestone. Also, Titan is designed to burn other fuels like old tires, and they emit all kinds of toxins, including mercury.