20020672 Ver 3_McLaney Comment_20150129

I am the Deputy Director of Cfean Air Carolina and a nati�e of North Carolina.
Many expect to lose land that has been in the family for generations. Legislation, in the ramp
up promoting this type of bypass toll road has made it even more difficult to protect and _
promote the historical nature of our most valued resource, aur �armlar�d where 92% of farms
here in Union County are family owned and operated. The bypass toll road would also take
away future impro�emer�ts for our "farm to market" roads and bridges by lea�ing precious
little maintenance resources to ensure a safe and easy path to bring good5 and ser�ices to the
marketplace. With NCD�T stating o�er and o�er that they da rtot fa�or any char�ges in locaf
roads that have a competing interest in the bypass, means locai roads stay, unrepair�d,
congested and dri�e up costs so that contractors can attempt to profit in toll revenue. Fix US74
f i rst.
They say that the bypass will not increase traffic b�t gi�e options for through travel and trucks
to pass more efficientfy. Then they say that congestion on 74 would not likely change and
capacity would remain the same. Union County ranks #2 in soybean, #2 in wheat, and #3 in
chicken production in North Carolina, but also it also ranks 7th hig�est in ozone pollution in
the state. According to the North Carolina Department of Agricu�ture 2013 Siat Book, there
are well o�er 1000 acti�e fiarming operations in the Co�anty totaling over 1.7$,OQ� acres of fand.
These farms made o�er $464 million in cash receipts in 2012, ranking the County 3rd in the
state in agricultural production. �n ad�ition, Union also ranks 3rd in I�vestock, dairy and poultry
praductian. We need to protect these 500 acres of acti�e and producti�e agricultural land and
pre�ent more s�burban sprawl.
All farms within Union County will be greatly impacted by air pallution from this major
highway. Ozone pollution increases in the presence of �ehicle exhaust. It creates measura�le
negative affects resulting ir� real cro� loss and therefore econamic lass to the County.
�.et's ke�p the� de�elo�ment where the existing consumers are, preser�e and expand the
growing need for locally grown food and li�estack wh�le maintaining the many environmental
benefits pro�ided by a heaithy tree canopy. Union County, its farms, people, and the economy
will �hrive by taking the most logicaf path for a secur� future which is to red�sign highway 74.
�rni� McLan�y
6216 Rocky Falfs Road
Charlotte, NC 28211