Statesville Residents Opposed To Expansion Of Asphalt Company

“There's no way we would put our family and workers in harms way. There's no concern for the citizens in the area”

A debate in Statesville surrounds an asphalt company. Maymead Incorporated has a proposed plan to build a new asphalt plant along Northside Drive, paving the way for new business, but they need a special use ... via WSOC

[short on time]

Studying the possible health effects attributed to chemical mixtures, including resulting fumes and vapors, is complex. Despite the uncertainties, limitations, and mixed study results, what is clear is that asphalt fume condensates produce malignant skin tumors in mice; and that, when exposed to airborne concentrations of asphalt or asphalt fumes and vapors, workers report symptoms of irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and, in some, lower airway changes and demonstrate metabolism of the chemical constituents of asphalt fumes and vapors. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that effects do occur in mammalian systems and that the limitations or uncertainties should not preclude taking steps to manage human exposures. Under various performance specifications, it is likely that asphalt fumes and paints contain carcinogenic substances.
World Health Organization
Geneva, 2004

[Nader]

I would be most interested to see those studies, as all the studies that I've seen from the EPA and WHO show that asphalt production has no effect on humans.

Regardless, opponents to the asphalt plant need to wake up and realize that the plant is going to happen because there is no lawful way to stop it.

[Jane Srail]

Being one of the opponents of the asphalt plant (and wide awake, as well) there IS a way a plant is not going to happen in my neighborhood: City Council must vote the owner of the property a "Special Use Permit." In other words, there's an ordinance against having an asphalt plant in the City limits.

In my opinion, the owners of the property are requesting "spot zoning," which, quite naturally, is opposed. Also, in 2000 citizens were opposed to a plant and told everyone then, they were 20 years behind. Now they're almost 30 years behind times. Plus there is already one plant in Statesville and that's enough.

[yeah]

just because its a big compamy does not mean that the little people cant put a stop to it. look at the states and cities that have said no to walmart moving in and killing all of their small biz they have.

so it can be done.

[Nader]

Of course it can be done, but any successful opposition must have some valid basis. In this case, there really is no valid basis for opposition...the area is already zoned for heavy industrial and has been for a very long time. An asphalt plant has been there in the past.

Thankfully the City Council had enough sense to grant the permit.(Although it would have been entertaining to see them get their pants sued off for hindering legitimate business...Allegheny COunty had to pay Maymead over $400,000 when they refused to grant a permit and Maymead sued them)

[Clinton]

Nader wrote:

Of course it can be done, but any successful opposition must have some valid basis. In this case, there really is no valid basis for opposition...the area is already zoned for heavy industrial and has been for a very long time. An asphalt plant has been there in the past.
Thankfully the City Council had enough sense to grant the permit.(Although it would have been entertaining to see them get their pants sued off for hindering legitimate business...Allegheny COunty had to pay Maymead over $400,000 when they refused to grant a permit and Maymead sued them)

What would be even more entertaining than seeing tax dollars going to waste on a lawsuit against the City, would be if state inspectors camp out on Maymead's doorstep 24/7. That is the only way Roark will comply with the strict regulations imposed. I hope Wiley Roark has to pry those inspectors out of his butt crack with a crowbar on a daily basis.

[Nader]

Clinton wrote:

<quoted text>What would be even more entertaining than seeing tax dollars going to waste on a lawsuit against the City, would be if state inspectors camp out on Maymead's doorstep 24/7. That is the only way Roark will comply with the strict regulations imposed. I hope Wiley Roark has to pry those inspectors out of his butt crack with a crowbar on a daily basis.

Oh, he will comply. He only has a certain amount of time to get his asphalt plant up and running or the special use permit expires. Once it begins operation, it can stay there as long as he wants it to, but he has to get it running within the time limit.

The regulations aren't that strict anyway, most of the City's restrictions are items that Maymead suggested to ease worry. The company will have no trouble with any of that.