BOLIVIA, N.C. (WECT) – Open burning in Brunswick County is clearing the way for new homes, but one homeowner says it’s coming at the expense of his property.
Terry Boldt lives in Bolivia and his property borders a planned development on Gilbert and Benton Road. Developers have been burning the vegetation to clear the way for a housing complex.
Boldt says he came home one day to find 200 to 300 dead fish in his backyard pond, which he believes is a result of the open burning happening right next to his property.
“We spent a lot of money over the years to try to make a nice place for my family, and a lot of money stocking these ponds,” Boldt said.
Boldt says he found elevated pH levels in the water after the fish kill.
That’s not the only issue he says the burning has caused.
“We’ve been dealing with 45 straight days of ash on our property, our fence, our cars, our house. Now I’ve got two horses out of three that got a chronic cough,” Boldt said.
Boldt says he’s not opposed to new development, but in this case, he believes developers were not following regulations.
For example, he says they were burning at 4:30 in the morning and on weekends.
Shawn Taylor, public information officer for the Division of Air Quality for NCDEQ, says burning hours typically are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“These rules are designed to make sure that those emissions from burning the smoke don’t lead to unnecessary or overly harmful emissions to your neighbors,” Taylor said.
Boldt says hasn’t had much luck getting answers from state and local agencies.
He plans on taking legal action if he can prove a link between the burning and the fish kill.
For now, he says it serves as a reminder to be aware of new developments.
“We as landowners and people in Brunswick County need to really pay attention to what kind of developments are going on in Brunswick County, because if we don’t speak up, then we’re not going to be able to protect this county,” Boldt said.
Taylor says if you have concerns about burning violations, you can reach out to the NCDEQ Division of Air Quality, and they will investigate.
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