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JACKSONVILLE – A proposed asphalt plant has some people in Onslow County concerned.

Morton Trucking wants to build the plant near its facility off U.S. Highway 17. But people who live in the area are worried about the environmental impacts.

Carolyn Humphrey lives less than a mile from where Morton Trucking hopes to build the plant, and she is not pleased with the news.

"We're not putting a hot dog stand in our neighborhood," Humphrey said. "We're putting an asphalt plant which could be devastating to our community."

She fears the plant will sink property value. She also worries about air and water pollution.

White Oak New Riverkeeper Tess Sanders say the proposed plant is too close to Little Northeast Creek.

"Asphalt plants definitely have the potential to contaminate surface waters through spills or chemical leaks," Sanders said. "Obviously a spill would be catastrophic."

Sanders worries about a ripple effect with water pollution because the creek runs right into the much larger New River.

But Morton Trucking owner Elijah Morton says critics have it all wrong.

"Since 2002, [asphalt] has been taken off of any federal or state regulations as far as being able to contaminate the air, because of what it's made of it is not a contaminate," Morton said.

Morton said there are stringent regulations on asphalt plants his company would follow. He also points out plants have become much more environmentally friendly in recent years.

"I've lived here for over 50 years and never would I want to do something that harmed my family," Morton said. "My boys and I work here. I've thought about those things before I even thought about putting an asphalt plant up here."

Whether the plant can move forward is now in the hands of the Onslow County Board of Adjustment. The board will hold a public hearing on the matter Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at 604 College Street in Jacksonville.