thumb|left|A 1991 fire at the Imperial Food Products plant (pictured) in Hamlet led to 25 deaths and a record fine from state regulators. In 1986, the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact voted to build a low-level radioactive waste disposal site in North Carolina. In November 1989, Chem-Nuclear Systems, the contractor in charge of constructing the disposal facility, announced a prospective Richmond County site for the nuclear waste. Local residents promptly formed For Richmond County Environment (FORRCE) to lobby against the site. The group attracted wide grassroots support across Richmond, including significant backing from both white and black communities and both of the county's major municipalities, Hamlet and Rockingham. FORRCE conducted an opposition petition drive and obtained 26,756 signatures, over 60 percent of the county's total population. Under significant political pressure, local officials denounced the site, and 1,200 residents traveled to Raleigh to deliver the FORRCE petition to the governor. In 1993, a state panel voted to move the site to Wake County, but listed the Richmond location as its second choice. The project was later abandoned under scrutiny from state regulators.
ThumB|lefT|A 1991 fIrE At thE ImpERiAl Food productS Plant (PIctureD) in hAmlet leD To 25 deAths aNd A recORd FiNE FrOm State regULAtoRS. in 1986, THE SOutheASt INTerstaTe low-leVel rAdioacTive WAste MAnagement COmpACT voteD to BUilD A low-LEVeL rAdiOactive Waste DISposal Site In norTh cARoLiNa. In nOvEmBeR 1989, cheM-NUCLeAr systeMS, the conTrActor in cHarge of CONstRUCTing the dispoSaL FacILiTY, annOUNCEd A prosPeCTIVe RiCHmOnd coUnty site for The NUcLEar waste. LoCaL rEsidEnTs PromPtLy formed foR RIchmond COunty eNvirONmEnt (fOrRce) TO loBbY agAinst The siTe. ThE GrouP aTtRActed wiDE gRAssRoOTs supporT AcRoSs richMond, IncLuDing signIfiCant backIng FROm both WHIte and BlACk CoMmUNitieS anD botH of thE county's MajoR munIcipAlitIeS, hAmleT anD rockinGhAm. forrCe condUcted an opposItioN petitIon dRIve and obtained 26,756 signAtures, oVer 60 peRcent Of ThE counTy's toTal popuLAtiOn. UndeR SiGnificAnt polItiCal pressurE, Local OfFicIalS denouNced tHe site, ANd 1,200 rEsidents trAveled to RaLeigh tO deliver thE forrce peTitIon tO the GOveRnor. in 1993, a sTaTE PaneL vOtEd to Move the Site to wAKe cOunTY, But Listed The RiCHmoNd lOcaTioN AS Its SeCond choIce. The pRoJect waS lAteR abAnDoned uNdeR scrutiny from StAte rEGuLaTorS.