To illustrate the reasons behind his deep opposition to Titan America, LLC and its prospects in New Hanover County, Michael Wolfe held up a poster-sized picture of a young man whose body had shriveled up like a raisin because of mercury poisoning in front of an auditorium packed with people on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

That picture—while its purpose was to voice Titan opposition—represented both sides of this heated issue: fear of environmental degradation and the concern of passing on economic opportunity in the current economic crisis.

Both sides converged at two public hearings held at the Cape Fear Community College North Campus BB&T Auditorium, where officials with the state Department of Air Quality (DAQ) fielded about 200 public comments for approximately seven hours Tuesday evening, said Tom Mather, the division’s public information officer.

Officials estimated that a total of 1,500 people attended the hearings.

Although the hearings were held regarding the issuance of Titan’s air permit, opponents and supporters used it as a forum to voice their opinions regarding the entire situation.

Among those fundamentally opposed to the issuance of an air permit, was Michelle Nowlin, senior lecturing fellow and supervising attorney for the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, who called the entire permitting process and government involvement "an environmental injustice to the community and a violation of state and federal law."

In her comments before DAQ officials, Nowlin said the air permitting process has ignored greenhouse gas regulations, updated cement plant regulations expected to be finalized by the EPA, water quality, the company’s history of noncompliance, and its proximity to residential neighborhoods and schools.

"You are imposing these burdens on the most vulnerable population: the children and poor," she told the officials. "You must draw back and address these issues before you proceed."

Nowlin added that since taxpayer dollars have been allocated toward this company’s new project, it is required to fall under an environmental impact review, but state officials have bypassed that review and appear to be moving forward.

Opposition to Titan Cement also came in the form of environmental organizations, university professors, social workers, local attorneys, real estate brokers, Wilmington city council candidates, a host of doctors, college students, children and many more.

One of them was Jessica Cannon, a retired OB/GYN.

"If you think of a growing brain as being built like a railroad, you can envision the effects of mercury," she said. "As a child, you add a new section of the track with each new experience. Mercury exposure is like putting a 10-ton boulder in the path of this growing neural railway."

Another man held a thermometer that contained two grams of mercury before DAQ officials and said if the thermometer were to break the EPA has issued nine pages of instructions on how to clean up the mess.

The same man then held a vial with two tablespoons of mercury and said if he were to drop it, everyone in this room would be forced to exit for at least 24 hours.

"Now I’m very nervous, I hope I don’t drop this," he said.

Connecting mercury poisoning to autism was a common theme at the hearings. At least two speech language pathologists, who work with local school children, and Carol Pilgrim, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, argued that there is a direct connection between autism and proximity to a mercury-emitting source.

Pilgrim added that any short-term financial benefits from Titan would be offset by providing services to people with autism, which can run hundreds of thousands of dollars per individual.

"We already have enough pollution, why should we have more?" asked Lola June, a girl who was so young she had to be hoisted by her mother to reach the microphone. "I feel like nothing should happen unless it’s good."

Opponents also used credible sources, personal stories and expressed feelings of abandonment by the government to bolster their arguments that Titan will be a major polluter, a threat to the business community and the economy.

While the number of Titan opponents probably exceeded the number of supporters, those in favor of the company’s plans were not under-represented. A huge portion of the crowd wore buttons and T-shirts.

A number of those in favor of issuing the air draft permit, including business leaders, members of local organizations, former cement plant employees and nearby residents of Titan’s other plants in Florida and Virginia, undermined opposition remarks.

Much of the supporting arguments centered around the hundreds of jobs that Titan may bring to the area, economic investment, the company’s potential to leverage more business, claims of environmental responsibility and community involvement, and a general trust for state and federal regulations and standards.

Wil Massengill, owner of the local RW Moore Equipment Company in Castle Hayne, said that because his company could provide parts and service for machinery, he would be able to add 10 new employees to his workforce by Titan’s presence in New Hanover County.

"We need industry here," he said. "I can’t think of a better one than them."

Several members of the Coalition for Economic Advancement also partook in the hearings, among them was chairman Bob Warwick, who contended that Titan will meet every regulation, will be a major capital investor and a responsible corporate citizen.

"Most of the people that I know who are opposed to this plant are basing their decisions on misinformation," he said. "There is no evidence that any cement plant in the United States has caused any damage to anyone."

Two hearings were held, one from 2-5 p.m. and the other from 6:30-10 p.m.

Following the public comments, Paul Muller, the DAQ regional supervisor who moderated the hearing, said he had never seen so many physicians voice opinions during a public comment period.

"Of the comments I heard, that was unique to me: the number of physicians who came and the apparent unity they have in opposing the permit," Muller said.

Muller said he will be reviewing the comments before making a recommendation to the DAQ regional director, Keith Overcash. The director has the final authorization on whether to grant the permit.

Comments can be submitted to the DAQ until Nov. 20. A decision is expected in late 2009 or the beginning of 2010, Mathis said.

Comments can be sent to Don van de Vaart, Air Permits Section, NC Division of Air Quality, 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699.