DECEMBER 1999

Dec. 17, 1999 - EPA action on Section 126 Petitions, regarding regional transport of smog (ozone), will affect NC and VA emissions. EPA granted petitions filed by four northeastern states seeking to reduce ozone pollution (smog) through reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions from other states.
Summary of Dec. 17, 1999 action
North Carolina facilities affected by Dec. 17, 1999 action
Virginia facilities affected by Dec. 17, 1999 action
EPA fact sheet
EPA Press Release
Ground-level ozone
Daily Ozone readings and forecasts

Dec. 15, 1999 - BREDL's comments and recommendations on minimum management practices for Dry Cleaning Solvent Perchloroethylene

Dec. 03, 1999 - BREDL's comments on National Forest Roadless Area Initiative

Dec. 1999 - U.S. Forest Service public meetings on roadless area initiative

NOVEMBER 1999

Nov. 3, 1999 - U.S. Justice Department Press Release: U.S. Justice Dept. , on behalf of the EPA, sues electric utilities to enforce the Clean Air Act.

OCTOBER 1999

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Oct. 29, 1999 public health letter to citizens living near Solite, Inc.

Oct. 12, 1999 - Anson County CACTUS requests Solite, Inc. investigation include Anson and Union Counties.

President Clinton's memorandum on national forest roadless areas . The 60 day public comment period began when the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Oct. 19, 1999 Federal Register.

The Forest Service is in the process of revising the way land and resource management plans for the 201 national forests and grasslands nationwide are developed. The proposed rule (219 regs) was published in the October 5, 1999 federal register. Public comment period has been extended to Feb. 3, 2000.

SEPTEMBER 1999

Sept. 30, 1999 - Accident at Tokai Nuclear plant in Japan. The reaction started when workers mixed too much uranium with nitric acid in a storage tank.

Sept 28, 1999 - BREDL's comments on Low-level Radioactive Waste as presented at recent public meetings held by NC Division of Radiation Protection.

Connecticut Yankee: The Haddam Neck Plant began active dismantlement of large radioactive components the week of September 13, 1999.

On Sept. 20, 1999, the NC Division of Waste Management signed a Compliance Order with Administrative Penalty for Solite, Inc. of $52,499.00

BREDL requests EPA to pull Solite, Inc. permits - Sept 3, 1999

Solite, Inc., a subsidiary of Giant Cement, violates settlement agreement with NC Division of Air Quality. More info.

AUGUST 1999

Richmond, VA 8/19/1999 - Governor Jim Gilmore has asked Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley to investigate recent Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) environmental mishaps, including unpermitted construction of the East-West Expressway on wetlands in Hampton and a sewage sludge spill into Tuckahoe Creek during construction of Route 288 in Goochland County.

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has begun an investigation into the matters with the cooperation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Virginia State Police. As a result of these mishaps, the Governor also has accepted the resignation of VDOT Commissioner David Gehr.

JUNE 1999

Wisconsin Tissue UPDATE: Georgia Pacific Corporation and the parent company of Wisconsin Tissue Chesapeake Corporation announced June 26, 1999 their intention to combine their tissue supply business. Georgia-Pacific Group will control and manage the partnership and is expected to own approximately 90 percent of the equity of the partnership. Chesapeake will contribute the assets of its Wisconsin Tissue business to the partnership, for which it will receive a 10 percent interest in the partnership and an initial cash distribution of approximately $730 million. As a result the Wisconsin Tissue Plant project in Halifax County, NC has been put on hold. At the end of May, Wisconsin Tissue had announced their intention not to use chlorine based chemicals at the Halifax facility. On June 28, Wisconsin Tissue withdrew the permit applications and EIS currently under review by NC DENR.

BREDL comments on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's proposed Sunshine Act rule change.

MAY 1999

NC ACT Press Release: State and Federal Agencies Criticize Wisconsin Tissue Environmental Assessment

HCWH Press Release: Universal Health Services, the nation's third largest hospital management company, announces at its annual shareholder's meeting that it will seek to replace PVC medical supplies with cost effective alternatives.

APRIL 1999

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) unveils a comprehensive alternative to current official US government plans for management of highly radioactive wastes.

MARCH 1999

From Synergy - Plutonium in the Piedmont: The MOX program ( Duke Power contracts with DOE to use plutonium-based mixed-oxide fuel (MOX) in reactors at McGuire and Catawba nuclear stations.)

From Synergy - Love Canal activist Lois Gibbs joins battle against Matthews incinerator

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) says DOE Plutonium fuel contract award is inappropriate and premature.

DOE contracts with Duke Engineering & Services, COGEMA, Inc., and Stone & Webster to provide mixed oxide fuel fabrication and reactor irradiation services in support of the department's mission to dispose of surplus weapons plutonium.

FEBRUARY 1999

F.S. logging road moratorium

VA Governor upset over medical waste