Tension over new industry continues

HAMLET — Several days before the Hamlet City Council approved a resolution asking the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to hold a public hearing on International Tie Disposal’s synthetic minor construction permit, Hamlet City Manager Matt Christian sent a letter to DEQ outlining his concerns over the company that prompted the resolution.

In the letter sent on Nov. 6 and addressed to Heather Carter, regional supervisor for DEQ’s Division of Air Quality who is based in Fayetteville, Christian emphasizes that it is his duty as city manager to “protect the health, safety and welfare of our community” and that International Tie Disposal’s application for this permit raises concerns that “our rural community may be irreversibly altered.”

Because International Tie Disposal is only applying for a synthetic minor construction permit, as opposed to a “major” one, they are not required to submit to a public hearing. However, Division of Air Quality Director Michael Abraczinskas can choose to require a public hearing “based on public interest relevant to air quality” under 15A NCAC 02Q .306(a)(1).

Christian asks that a public hearing be held “to allow for full public engagement” on the issue of the company, which would burn creosote-treated railroad ties through a process called pyrolysis to create biochar, coming to the area. If approved for this permit, International Tie Disposal would begin construction in the first quarter of 2021.

“On one hand, I want to believe that the proposed pyrolysis of creosote treated railroad ties will have no adverse impact on our community; I want to believe that science and modern technology can neutralize the negative effects of this known carcinogen; I want to believe that our county leaders are considering the second and third order effects of industrial development,” Christian wrote. “However, I do not have confidence that any of these beliefs will hold true if the proposed permit is approved in its current form, especially without meaningful input from the public.

“There are too many unanswered questions, and wishful thinking certainly won’t protect us from these uncertainties.”

In an email to the Daily Journal Wednesday, Christian explained his concern further, noting the similarities between International Tie Disposal’s process and Georgia Renewable Power (GRP). GRP began operation in May 2019 burning creosote-treated railroad ties to produce power and by June 2020 the Georgia legislature unanimously approved H.B. 857 which prohibited this practice because of the harmful effects on the surrounding community and environment.

Rep. Alan Powell, a Republican representing Georgia House District 32 and the chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee, was a primary sponsor on H.B. 857. Powell met with the local residents who reported a “tremendous amount of air pollution” and health problems associated with it. Residents also reported an oily surface of nearby creeks.

“Quite frankly, the legislature in Georgia was quite concerned about the environmental impacts” of GRP, Powell said in an interview last week.

The Hamlet City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a resolution calling on DEQ to hold a public hearing on the permit. They raise the concern that the proposed site of the new facility at 174 Marks Creek Church Rd., is within 2,500 feet of Hamlet’s water source which serves more than 10,000 residents.

“I have not heard anything from the company, their consultants, or the county that gives me confidence that our community won’t experience the same harm as the folks in Georgia,” Christian said in an email.

Mayor Pro Tem Jesse McQueen has maintained that this issue represents a common threat that rural communities face.

“Far too many times rural America has to deal with these things because they are rural and poor,” McQueen said. “We don’t need to let the grass grow under our feet on this. We need to put pressure and do all we can when we can to make sure this does not happen this close to our water source.”

‘Communication breakdown’

In response to the resolution passing, Economic Developer Martie Butler on Wednesday expressed frustration with the apparent “breakdown in communication” that she speculated is “internal” in Hamlet based on her conversation with Mayor Bill Bayless earlier Wednesday. Butler told Bayless that she had twice offered, via emails sent to Christian, to meet with Hamlet leadership herself to address questions and concerns about International Tie Disposal potentially coming to the area and that Christian had not “taken her up on” the offer.

Bayless confirmed to the Daily Journal that he told Butler that he was not aware Butler had offered to meet with Hamlet leadership through Christian, but declined to comment further. Bayless added that his and Butler’s conversation was “amicable” and that he has “no problems” with Butler herself.

“We talked for a little while, she explained her view on it and I listened,” Bayless said.

The two emails Butler was referring to were sent at 10 a.m. Oct. 28 and at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. Christian said that while it’s true that she made these offers, she did not present an opportunity for city leadership to meet with the company. He also noted that the rezoning of the property in question to Heavy Industrial was approved on Oct. 8 — the company applied for the permit to build on the site a month prior, and required communications about that application were sent to Hamlet and county staff as part of that process — and the city’s leaders did not hear from county leadership directly until after Bayless raised concerns at their October council meeting.

“I gave first priority to the neighboring residents,” Butler said in an interview Wednesday, referring to those who live in the area around Marks Creek Church Road and the leadership of Dobbins Heights. She added that “Hamlet is number two” behind those two groups.

“I don’t want Hamlet to cut off their nose to spite their face,” she continued. She noted that the company still has to meet the requirements of DEQ and said that their experts will determine whether this industry is safe to operate in the area.

“Let (DEQ) take the lead and do their research. They are in place for those exact reasons,” Butler said in a text. “We as a community need to be united as Richmond County and focus our efforts to recruit jobs and investment for our citizens.”

Butler brokered a meeting on the afternoon of Oct. 28 between the representatives of Polikva International, the parent company of International Tie Disposal, and the residents who live adjacent to the site where the company’s new facility would be, which Christian attended at the invitation of the residents.

At 10 a.m. on Oct. 28, Butler responded to a series of two emails Christian had sent on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 requesting the minutes from the most recent planning meeting and Board of Commissioners meetings. In her response, Butler said, “I am happy to meet with Bill Bayless and members of your council as well— that way any questions they have could be answered as it relates to this project,” adding in parentheses, “I could bring along a commissioner or 2 if that would help.”

Christian then reached out on Nov. 5 asking for information that was apparently missing from Butler’s previous response to his inquiry. Butler responded again saying “let me know if your council or Mayor Bayless would like to speak or discuss this or any economic development … would be happy to answer directly any questions they may have.”

“If Richmond County really wanted to engage with the City of Hamlet in a meaningful way, they would have been much more proactive way before their plans started unraveling,” Christian said in an email Wednesday.