STOP! MORTON'S ASPHALT PLANT!
As you know we are working on a campaign to stop Morton Trucking, Inc. from building an asphalt plant off of NC HWY 17N and near the banks of Little Northeast Creek. This Asphalt Plant puts Onslow County's most precious resources, the New River at risk. Protect our drinking water and our children's future and join New River Foundation in opposing this plant.
Here are some key issues to think about:
- The proposed Asphalt Plant is a "for profit" business venture.
- It will be located within a few feet of Little Northeast Creek. The State, County, nor the Asphalt Plant owner can guarantee that the river and our groundwater will never be polluted by the runoff. It is not a matter of IF it will pollute, but WHEN it will contaminate the land and the river.
- If the area floods (it is currently on a 100 year flood plain and within a few feet of wetlands) toxic runoff WILL pollute the New River. This river contributes millions of dollars to Onslow County.
- Asphalt Plant's generate toxic air emissions like cancer-causing benzene, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.
- There are children and senior citizens with respiratory problems in close proximity to this plant sight --- let's not jeopardize health for profit!
- Truck traffic on NC-17 North and Halltown Road will exceed everyone's imagination. 100's of trucks filled with asphalt could be barreling down this road daily. This will make traveling on these roads more dangerous, and will cost taxpayers more money for road repair.
- Private residential wells are nearby. Families have owned some of the surrounding property for hundreds of years. Should we risk their quality of life for a business venture?
We need to protect our river and keep Asphalt Plants out of fragile environments and residential areas!
Our community benefits when we work together to maintain and preserve the quality of life we enjoy here in Onslow County. The river that runs through our town also binds us with a common goal; we live here, we work here, our children play here, and we protect our river. Collaborating with the PON Foundation in this effort to Stop! Mortons Asphalt Plant. Visit their website here.
Please follow the link below to sign our petition below. We encourage you to forward this e-mail and petition to your friends!
Thank you for your help in restoring and protecting our rivers! |
| Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is asphalt?
A: Asphalt is a paving material made from crushed rock and asphalt cement, which is a mixture of petroleum compounds produced by oil refineries.
Q: How is asphalt made?
A: Asphalt plants heat the asphalt cement in enclosed tanks and then combine it with crushed rock. The asphalt is then conveyed to storage silos, where it is loaded onto trucks for delivery to construction sites for highways, parking lots and residential areas.
Q: How can an Asphalt Plant affect New River?
A: Asphalt plants can contaminate ground water through spills and leaks of chemicals and stormwater runoff. Silt runoff into Little Northeast Creek (and eventually into New River) will suffocate aquatic wildlife and plants and prevent natural vegetation from growing (which filters contaminates out of our river).
Q: What air pollutants would be released?
A: Carbon disulfide, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, styrene, benzene (a known carcinogen), trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE).
Q: What health consequences can occur from exposure to these pollutants?
A: These pollutants can cause cancer, central nervous system damage, respiratory and liver damage. Also exposure to these pollutants will severely harm people with existing chronic or acute health issues.
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