Letter of the Day: Proposed asphalt plant is a threat to nearby communities

For some time now, I have been sympathetically following the progress of Snow Creek area residents in resisting the construction of a biodiesel plant in their residential/agricultural community.

Imagine my surprise and consternation when I learned recently that my neighborhood is now faced with the re-establishment of an asphalt plant, dormant since 1994, less than a mile from my residence in Monticello Heights.

To compound the problem, the fate of a number of neighborhoods, Monticello Heights, Timberbrook and Audubon Acres to name only a few, is now in the hands of the Statesville City Council, and we’re not even in the city limits.

Make no mistake, Statesville residents, this plant, proposed to be rebuilt on Northside Drive just north of Interstate 40, is going to affect you as well. Studies of similar plants throughout North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee have shown a dramatic decrease in property values on surrounding properties and an attendant increase in air and groundwater pollution.

Asphalt plants are emitters of copious quantities of volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene, etc. All of these products are known or suspected carcinogens. Add arsenic to the list and you’ve got quite a challenging chemical threat to the health and well-being of our neighborhoods.

We can’t take the air we breathe for granted. Inform yourselves of the details and attend the Statesville City Council meeting Feb. 4 to make your opposition known.

Fred Coe
Statesville