Dry sulfur pellet storage facility proposal just a rumor

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. - Hours after Governor Bev Perdue announced to Carteret County citizens they didn't have to worry about a sulfur melting plant moving into their backyard, local coalition leaders were calling her a liar.

Yesterday, Perdue announced PCS Phosphate had abandoned its plans to expand its sulfur melting facility at the Morehead City Port. 

By last night members of the Clean County Coalition were reacting to reports that PCS Phosphate was still moving forward with plans to put a sulfur storage facility there.

Governor Perdue told the Clean County Coalition they won their fight against PCS Phosphate, but hours later the group heard Morehead City would still have to contend with dry sulfur pellets being brought into their port.

"Which in our view has always been the most dangerous portion of this project and the one we fear the most,” said coalition president John Nelson, who didn't hold back his frustration saying Governor Perdue lied by omission. "I was one of the most vociferous in calling the governor a liar. That was me personally. I apologize to the governor."

Nelson talked with Perdue’s senior advisor who said the governor was just as stunned as he was to hear the misinformation.

PCS Phosphate spokesperson Michelle Vought told Nine On Your Side the company is taking a step back on the entire project to re-evaluate its options and the company doesn't know where the report came from either.

"I don't feel comfortable at all with PCS Phosphate,” said Leigh Johnson, Clean County Coalition vice-president. "They're a multi-national, multi-billion dollar corporation and they will do what they have to do to make money and no, I don't trust PCS Phosphate."

Coalition members still don't trust the company because it was allowed to obtain permits for the sulfur melting facility without a public hearing.

"I probably know more about sulfur now than I ever really want to know,” commented Jet Matthews, adding the sulfur pellets would have been unloaded at the port, transported on a conveyer under the Highway 70 bridge to the storage facility about 200 feet from his yacht basin. "People down here move to the coast to enjoy the water and the recreation and the inlet and the fishing and things like that- not to wonder when a mass explosion is going to take place or there's going to be a major catastrophe."

Coalition members will still do everything it takes to keep sulfur out of their city. 

Governor Perdue's senior advisor says Perdue will live up to her promise of full disclosure and public input on all future Morehead City Port projects.

The Clean County Coalition plans to work closely with Governor Perdue and the port to bring proposals to the table that will have a positive impact on the community. 

--- Previous Story - Grassroots Coalition Not Satisfied With PCS Sulfur Plant Gone ---

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. - There will be no sulfur melting plant in Morehead City.

PCS Phosphate voluntarily agreed to stop its plans to build the facility at the port.  It's an about face by the company for what seemed to practically be a done deal.  A huge public outcry against it turned the tide.

"PCS Phosphate has voluntarily agreed to abandon pursuit of the sulfur smelting operation," announced Gov. Bev Perdue at the Morehead City Port Wednesday evening.

There was instant jubilation.  A grassroots effort called the Clean County Coalition, code name: Sulfurious, fought hard enough for PCS Phosphate to change its plans.

"It's a home run for us,” said Leigh Johnson, Clean County Coalition Vice President. “We are ecstatic that the governor listened to the people that democracy works."

The effort to stop the sulfur melting plant emerged less than two weeks ago.  Hundreds of people organized and flooded the governor as well as state lawmakers with complaints about damage to the environment and tourism.  They also got angry because a technicality in the law allowed the company to obtain permits without a public hearing.  However, Governor Perdue insists local governments were notified.

"There was never any secrecy about this project,” Perdue said to a chorus of boos.  “Let me be very direct. You can boo all you want, I'm just telling you the paper trail's there."

PCS Phosphate maintains its melting plant would have included state of the art technology to mitigate any environmental concerns. The decision also means 18 new full-time jobs won't be coming here.  Governor Perdue signed an executive order to study and identify economic investments at the state's ports that reflect the concerns of coastal communities.

"So that we won't have this discussion again in 5 or 10 years," Perdue said.

"Making sure that the port is a good neighbor and making sure that we bring industry in here that's compatible with our number one industry, which is tourism," Johnson said.

Fights like this in the future might be harder to win.  The override of Perdue's veto on Senate Bill 781 means companies will no longer be required to notify the public about potential economic or environmental hazards. 

The Clean County Coalition isn't completely satisfied with Wednesday’s announcement.  A statement from the organization complains that a sulfur storage facility at the port is still going forward and is withdrawing its support for the governor.

Governor Perdue says she will work with PCS Phosphate to see if another location for the sulfur melting facility is possible in the state.  A spokesperson for PCS Phosphate says the company is weighing its options.

---Prior Story---

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. - A grassroots coalition in Morehead City won its fight to stop the expansion plans of PCS Phosphate in Morehead City.

Governor Bev Perdue announced in a news conference late this afternoon the company voluntarily abandoned its plans.

This is an amazing turn of events for what seemed to be a virtual certainty for PCS. Its plan to add a sulfur melting plant at the port only needed one more permit to be a go.

The governor's announcement drew huge applause from the crowd at the port this afternoon.

Most of the people who showed up are part of the Clean County Coalition. They organized about a week and a half ago to stop the plant.

They flooded the governor's office and state lawmakers' offices with phone calls and e-mail worried about the effects on the environment and tourism.

The governor got involved with the company directly and helped facilitate this development. 

Leaders of the grassroots coalition are thrilled. They got what they wanted and, in fact, call it a homerun.

While she was here, the governor signed an executive order that will require a closer look at all economic projects coming through the ports.