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Issue link: https://cement.epubxp.com/i/119488
NEWS AMERICAS Planned Titan Plant Lands River Basin on Endangered List December Cement Shipments Down from 2011 Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico for December 2012 were about 4.8 million metric tons (Mt), according to a U.S. Geological Survey report. This was slightly less than shipments in December 2011, however, shipments for the full year were 79.0 Mt, up by about 9 percent. The leading producing states in December were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania, in descending order, and these shipped about 46 percent of the U.S. total. The leading consuming states (Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Louisiana, in descending order) received about 41 percent of the December total shipments. Clinker production totaled 5.4 Mt in December, about 20 percent more than the output in December 2011. Production for the full year was 67.7 Mt, up by about 9 percent. The leading clinker-producing states in December were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania, in descending order, and these accounted for about 49 percent of the U.S. total. Masonry cement shipments in December of about 131,000 metric tons (t) were slightly higher than those of December 2011. Shipments for 2012 overall were 1.94 Mt, up by almost 6 percent. The leading consuming states were, in descending order, Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina and Georgia, and these received about 51 percent of December's total shipments. December 2012 imports of cement and clinker of about 485,000 t were almost 10 percent more than those in December 2011. Imports for the year through December were 7.04 Mt, up by about 8 percent. 6 The Southern Environmental Law Center has released its fifth annual Top 10 list of the most endangered places in the Southeast, and the Cape Fear River basin was included due to a planned Titan cement plant. The list includes areas in six states – Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama – that the environmental group said faced the threat of intrusive development, such as proposed highways and energy projects. According to the SELC, the Titan project would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands, add unsafe levels of mercury to local waters, and increase air pollution. The proposed plant, which would operate out of an existing facility in Castle Hayne, N.C., was granted a permit from the state Division of Air Quality in February. That permit is currently facing a lawsuit from area environmental groups. The other endangered areas that made the top 10 list, accompanied by SELC's reasons, are as follows: w Talladega National Forest, Alabama: Pressure to allow fracking on 43,000 acres of the forest risks drinking water supplies for downstream communities and would bring industrial operations into camping and hiking areas and sensitive wildlife habitat. w Metro Atlanta's Water Supply: Plans for multiple reservoirs in the metro Atlanta area threaten water supplies for downstream communities, numerous headwater streams and aquatic ecosystems. w Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina: Plans to widen U.S. 64 would destroy 300 acres of valuable wetlands and habitat for the last wild population of red wolves, a federally endangered species. w Courthouse Creek, North Carolina: A proposed timber sale in the view shed of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville threatens 472 acres of sensitive forest, a popular recreation destination, trout streams, and local tourism. w Waccamaw River, South Carolina: Two unlined coal ash ponds near Myrtle Beach are contaminating groundwater with arsenic at up to 300 times the state standard, which flows into the Waccamaw River upstream of drinking water supplies and a national wildlife refuge. w Goforth Creek Canyon, Tennessee: A scenic spot on the Ocoee Scenic Byway will be permanently damaged if the state builds a new and unnecessary highway through the Cherokee National Forest along a route known as Corridor K. w Virginia and Tennessee's Mountains: Mountaintop removal continues to threaten forests, streams, wildlife, and communities across Southern Appalachia, including the Coalfields Expressway project. w Charlottesville, Virginia: Despite more cost-effective, less damaging alternatives and strong public opposition, a $244 million proposed bypass would leave a permanent scar on one of the South's most special communities. w Southside Virginia: The push to lift Virginia's longstanding ban on uranium mining threatens the health of the Roanoke River Basin, which supplies drinking water for more than 1 million people. CEMENT AMERICAS • Spring 2013 • www.cementamericas.com