N&O covers Titan e-mails
Submitted by scharrison on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:54am
Lynn Bonner at the N&O does a pretty good write-up of behind-the-scenes plotting by Titan officials to avoid SEPA review:
In a July 22, 2008, e-mail to economic development officials and Merritt, Marino Papazoglou, director of business development for Titan, wanted to know "why we were not made aware of the link between SEPA and incentives" and whether they could approach environmental assistant secretary Robin Smith for help.
Merritt replied via e-mail that he planned to call then-Commerce Secretary Jim Fain about it. "Please, no one make contact on this matter until you hear back from me," Merritt wrote.
In an amazing demonstration of ill-informed illogic, Commerce's Keith Crisco chimes in:
State officials say there's a misunderstanding of the state environmental law and its intent. The state law was aimed at making sure government projects, community sewer plants for example, meet environmental regulations.
"If it's extended to everybody, that would add a great amount of time," Crisco said, saying that other states are streamlining their processes.
In an era of heightened competition, he said, "that would be a major detriment to economic development."
In an era of heightened awareness about the human health issues and environmental impact of toxic pollution, efforts to avoid SEPA, especially by public servants such as yourself Keith, should be looked upon with disgust.
As to the "intent" of the State law itself, here's what the DENR says:
SEPA is not a permit, but participation in the SEPA review process may be required prior to issuance of some permits. SEPA applies to any activity that meets all three of the following triggers: (1) an action by a state agency (such as land and money appropriations, awarding grants, issuing permits or granting licenses); (2) an expenditure of public monies or private use of state land (or waters); and (3) has a potential detrimental environmental effect upon natural resources, public health and safety, natural beauty or historical or cultural elements, of the state’s common inheritance.
A private company’s project could require an environmental document to be prepared if it meets the three triggers referenced above. It is not only public projects that require environmental documentation.
When you've got the Department of Administration managing environmental laws and the Department of Commerce putting forth legal opinions, it's no wonder our state is in such a mess.
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Seems like the Attorney General should be looking at this
An attempt to mislead the public and a private company by a senior administration official? Looks to me like the SELC has a slam-dunk case when it comes to challenging the validity of the process and permits.
Wow
I just read through the entire article and all the comments. What I thought going in was just an overly zealous Commerce Department turns out to be just one more example of a culture of corruption in how businesses operate in North Carolina. It's not a Democratic problem and it's not a Republican problem. It's a cultural problem that persists no matter who's calling the shots, and it would seem to be criminal from the ground up.
Perdue did the right thing asking the SBI to look into the matter. She bought some time to think this through.
This isn't about cement plants in general, it's about one specific plant badly situated on land that could likely be underwater 50 years from now.
My biggest concern with this:
There is a pretty wide gap between ethical behavior and criminal conduct, with many questionable behaviors that fall into that gap, and using the SBI might raise the bar so high no "prosecutable" statute violations can be found.
If that happens, and the SBI issues a "clean bill of health" to those involved, it would be much harder to push for an ethics review by other entities.
Sometimes the biggest tool in the box is not the best tool to use.
Good point
I was hoping the inquiry would buy us some time to help the Governor understand that gaining 160 jobs in New Hanover County is not worth the cost of (1) the perception of corruption and cronyism, and (2) children and fish being poisoned by mercury. Whatever money the state wants to invest in economic development should have a mission behind it: GREEN jobs, not just jobs.
NC and the US are getting their asses kicked by other countries who are investing in green like crazy. We're still chasing what flashy skirts walk by, hoping we'll stumble into a relationship worth having.
Why not go out on the hunt for the industries we want. Given how tight capital is, I'm betting we could create three times this number of jobs by stimulating investment into targeted industries and services.
Pouring millions into a mercury factor is one stupid, stupid, stupid idea. Pure folly on every front.
Exactly
A pox on all their houses. Taken as a whole, the NC government has sold its soul. Rep, Dem, there's no difference.
I hear your disgust, SPLib
There is a lot of truth in what you have said SPLib. But, to correct these kinds of serious situations, it most certainly will not be republicans involved. Think about it.
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