Congratulations and many thanks to everyone who took the time to email Mr. Keith Overcash at the NC Division of Air Quality and a dozen other government officials during the hectic holidays. The thousandth email crossed their desks on Christmas Day, sending a powerful message to regulators and elected officials that the citizens of this region will no longer put up with lax standards and backroom deals that let major polluters off the hook. One elected official told us she’d received 1,000 emails opposing Titan’s draft permit– and less than five in favor. DAQ spokesperson Tom Mather told the Star-News that Titan’s draft air permit would not be issued before the end of the month.

 The successful email campaign was followed by a formal letter from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and the Duke University  Environmental Law and Policy Center, signed by nearly a dozen citizens and environmental groups (including Friends of the Lower Cape Fear/StopTitan.org). SELC and Duke Law argue that since Titan will receive more than $4.5 million in public funds from state and local governments, Titan must fulfill the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act before DAQ issues them a draft air permit–a requirement DAQ somehow waived in October after Titan promised to avoid public lands and waters. They did not give up their public funding.

The issue will be heating up in January, so stay tuned for further updates and continue emailing your elected officials and spreading the word among your neighbors. If DAQ does issue Titan’s draft permit early next year they will have to hold a public hearing and we’ll need as many concerned citizens as possible to attend.

Thanks again for taking time to build a brighter future for your community.