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BREDL's Lou Zeller visits with George Murray of the NC Division of Air Quality.
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BREDL Clean Air Campaign
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NC Science Advisory Board on Toxic Air Pollutants recommends
increasing acceptable ambient levels (AALs) of arsenic nine-fold
Jan. 25, 2012: Raleigh- Despite latest research calling arsenic “the number one environmental chemical of concern in the US and worldwide, today the North Carolina Science Advisory Board on Toxic Air Pollutants (SAB) voted to recommend the increase of “Acceptable Ambient Levels” of arsenic nine-fold. This, despite the SAB’s own listing of arsenic as the number one substance to be reviewed under their “Prevention Paradigm.”
Read BREDL Press Release
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BREDL releases NC Air Toxics Report:
The North Carolina Legislature’s Assault on
the Public
Excerpts from the report:
From The History of the North Carolina Air Toxics Program Section:
In the 1980’s North Carolina established regulations for the reduction of toxic air pollutants—
chemicals which are irritants, acute or chronic toxicants, or carcinogens. The change was
prompted by rising levels of public concern about pollution and health. The NC Environmental
Management Commission was empowered by state law and executive order to control toxic air
pollution.
From the Fast Forward to 2012: A is for Arsenic Section:
To see a snapshot of what is ahead for North Carolina’s air
toxics standards, one has only to look at what has been occurring at the state level regarding this
well-known poison and carcinogen; increasingly shown to have alarming endocrine disrupting
effects.
Download the Report
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BREDL petitions EPA regarding NC DENR issuance of Title V permit for
CPI-USA Roxboro Plant
Dec. 9, 2011: At its Roxboro, NC plant, CPI incinerates tired derived fuel (“TDF”), coal, adulterated and unadulterated wood in
order to generate electricity that is then sold to Progress Energy of North Carolina. On October 19, 2011, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
issued a Title V permit for CPI-USA. BREDL has petitioned the U.S. EPA regarding the Title V permit.
BREDL hereby petitions the Administrator to object to the issuance of the Permit due to
NC DENR Division of Air Quality’s failure to assure compliance with applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act.
Specifically, DAQ fails to:
- Provide for meaningful public participation
- Appropriately address environmental justice issues
- Show compliance with North Carolina’s Title V program
View the BREDL Petition
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NC Environmental Management Commission Rules in South Atlantic Galvanizing Case
BREDL Request for Documents Upheld
Nov. 18, 2011: Raleigh- Yesterday, the North Carolina Environmental
Management Commission issued a declaratory ruling agreeing with
the North Carolina Division of Air Qualitys (DAQ) decision
to release improperly withheld information on emissions produced
by South Atlantic Galvanizings (SAG) facility in Graham,
N.C. SAG had asked the Commission to issue a declaratory ruling
against DAQs decision. This re-examination of the issue was
prompted by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL)
requesting documents supporting the Winston-Salem Regional Offices
2006 decision to keep emissions information confidential as SAG
requested. Therese Vick BREDL staff and author of the document
request said, State and federal law preclude keeping
emissions information confidential. DAQ Director Sheila Holman
did the proper thing by agreeing to release the documents.
Director Holman acted in the publics interest.
Read BREDL Press Release
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North Carolina Science Advisory Board Recommends Increasing “Acceptable” Ambient Air Levels of Arsenic “Nine-fold”
Nov. 15, 2011: Raleigh- Today, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) submitted comments on the risk assessment North Carolina’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) conducted on arsenic, a toxic heavy metal and known human carcinogen. The League expressed its opposition to any increase in arsenic levels. The SAB is recommending that North Carolina’s current health-based limit be increased over nine-fold. BREDL community organizer Therese Vick pointed out that, “By the time a child is 10, they could inhale the same amount of arsenic as a 90-year old.”
View BREDL Press Release | Read BREDL's Comments
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Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Calls for Financial Accounting of Proposed Rule’s Health Care Costs
Sept. 28, 2011: Raleigh- At a hearing on North Carolina’s proposed adoption of US EPA’s three-year deferral
on controlling greenhouse gases emitted from biomass incinerators, Blue Ridge Environmental
called for a full financial accounting of the rule’s impact on health care costs. EPA has not
mandated that States adopt the deferral. In addition, BREDL requested a review of the
rulemaking process pointing to attempts by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality to fast
track the process and circumventing public process.
Read BREDL Press Release | Read BREDL Comments
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League Calls For "Second
Opinion" on Health Effects of Biomass Incineration
Sept. 6, 2011: Candor NC- Tonight at a meeting organized by
Candor citizens concerned about a proposed biomass incinerator to
be operated by NC-CHP 1 LLC, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense
League released their white paper Second Opinion: The Medical
Profession Diagnoses Biomass Incineration. The white paper
compiles statements of concern from medical organizations and
professionals across the country who oppose biomass incineration.
Read BREDL Press Release
Download - Second Opinion: The Medical Profession Diagnoses Biomass Incineration.
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Alamance County, NC
considers Heavy Industrial Development Ordinance
June 7, 2011: Public health, safety and environmental concerns
must be addressed regarding this ordinance. Citizens must be
allowed a voice in revisions that could allow even more polluting
industries into Alamance County. Our Alamance County children
have many needs, but more pollution is not one of them. - Beverly
Kerr, Community Organizer
BREDL
Report - The Case Against Compromising Alamance Countys
Health, Safety and General Welfare
Janet's
June 7 Letter to Alamance County Board of Commissioners
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Medical Waste Incinerator Closed Down!
Campaign Victory Declared by Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and our chapter Citizens for a Healthy Environment
May 2011: Public education, community determination and direct action defeat bureaucratic inertia, financial influence and political pressure. BMWNC is closed! A May 11, 2011 letter to Mecklenburg County's air permit chief from incinerator manager Lewis Renfro states the company has “ceased operations at the incineration facility in Matthews, NC and has begun the process of decommissioning the site.”
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Groups Call for BMWNC Shut-down
New Pollution Study Identifies Harm
Nov. 9, 2010: Today at a press conference in Matthews,
the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Citizens for a
Healthy Environment released an air pollution study which
concludes that the BMWNC medical waste incinerator is too
dangerous to operate. The groups called for a shut-down of the
incinerator.
BREDL Press Release |
BMWNC Air Modeling
Report
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