This valley in the
Hothouse community is where
APAC-Tennessee Inc. wants to construct a
180,000 ton/year asphalt plant in
Cherokee County, NC. APAC currently
operates a quarry at the site; the white
areas are excavations where rock is being
removed. The asphalt plant site would be
at the foot of the mountain.
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Board Chairwoman Barbara Vicknair
read the proposed one year asphalt
plant construction moratorium at the
Cherokee County Commissioners meeting on
January 16, 2001. The Board voted
unanimously to approve the ordinance. The
purpose of the moratorium is to
"protect public health, safety, and
general welfare of the citizens of
Cherokee County, NC from potential
adverse health effects caused by asphalt
plants." The ordinance gives the
Economic Development Commission the
responsibility to develop, with public
input, a land use plan or ordinance to
regulate construction of asphalt plants.
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Ed Figueroa, a resident of the
Hothouse community in Cherokee County,
spoke in favor of a moratorium on asphalt
plant construction at the public hearing
in Murphy on January 16, 2001. Concerned
about high levels of toxic air pollution
and the effect on nearby homes and an
elementary school, he said, "Is it
worth the risk? I am concerned about the
health of our families; this is about the
health and future of our state."
Over 200 people attended
the hearing.
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