Wilmington Star-News editorialist presents a long if-but-however discourse (“State law: clear, but hazy”) about the definition of “public” money in the legal debate between state officials and environmental lawyers over stalling the permitting process to allow the operation of the proposed Carolina Cement plant near Wilmington. True, the state legalities seem to be hazy, but clearly, environmental activists want to stop this economic development project. She concludes that the company “facing strong opposition from some segments of the community, might buy a bit of goodwill by agreeing to wait.”

It’s clear, to all who follow this situation objectively, that Carolina Cement has spent lots of time and money on “goodwill.” Company representatives hold public meetings throughout the area; their administrative and technical staff offer straight, detailed information and answer all questions asked; the company pays expenses for tours to their modern plant in Roanoke, Va.; they document “impacts” and their plans to operate safely and satisfy all regulations; and they proudly and publically describe the future benefits to this community.

But, of course, they will also wait a long time before going into production. Regardless who wins the technical, regulatory argument, the multi-layered government processes will take years and cost the company large sums of money. Carolina Cement will follow all the rules, but not their enemies.

The editor euphemistically identifies “some segments of the community” who strongly oppose the project. That understates their threats to do everything they can to make the process more time-consuming and costly. It’s the common strategy of disruptive environmental activist groups to stop land and resource development when they have no substantive arguments to prevent it. And, now, a new reason to obstruct the process: they hope the Obama administration will change the rules of the environmental game by raising the already restrictive limits on mercury.

The Star-News editor would probably side with state agencies on other issues, but in this case she adds confusion to the “dispute over the timing” brought on by the N.C. Coastal Federation. They have enlisted the leftist Southern Environmental Law Center to thwart the process for their own self-serving interests: attack businesses and be rewarded with more funding to continue their subversive activities.

It’s difficult to understand why the Star-News editor would confuse readers about the people working against the economic interests of southeastern North Carolina. Maybe she just doesn’t understand what’s going on.

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