Clean Air

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

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

The League Line

BREDL's Winter 2012 newsletter available online

The LEAGUE LINE: Winter 2012

- Cover: Hydrofracking Law by Lou Zeller & Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on the Environment and the Rural Landscape by Therese Vick
- Director's Report: The Occupation of 2012 by Lou Zeller
- Chapter Update: Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff - Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Rallies Environmental Justice Campaign
- New Industries Invade Small Southern Cities and Georgia by Charles Utley
- The History of the North Carolina Air Toxics Program by Lou Zeller
- Fast Forward to 2012: A is for Arsenic by Therese Vick
- Nuclear Updates
- Chapter Update: Neighborhood Environment Watch - School and Church Outreach Campaign by Beverly Kerr
- Preventing Uranium Mining from Taking Place in Pittsylvania County, VA by Ann Roger
- Park Foundation Supports BREDL in 2012

Water Quality

The League comments on injection wells rulemaking

Jan. 13, 2012: The draft North Carolina rule on injection wells is the camel’s nose under the tent because it allows certain innocuous-sounding injection well practices to occur under a new permit-by-rule scheme, opening the door to others yet unspecified and potentially dangerous. Recently, North Carolina embarked on a program entitled “State Review of Oil & Natural Gas Environmental Regulations,” aka STRONGER. However, we believe the regulatory trend embodied in the proposed draft rule would be under a different program: “Work Essentially Aimed at Killing Environmental Regulations;” that is, WEAKER.  

Read BREDL Comments

Clean Energy

BREDL comments on the proposed air permit for North Star Jefferson Renewable Energy in Jefferson County, GA

The burning of wood and tires to produce power is an ill-considered idea; tires should not even be considered to be biomass and the residents of Jefferson County, Georgia do not deserve an additional, unnecessary source of toxic air pollution imposed upon their community.

BREDL Fact Sheet | BREDL Comments on proposed air permit

Nuclear - Vogtle

Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Rallies
Environmental Justice Campaigners in Georgia

Dr. Joseph E. Lowery

Jan. 7, 2012: Today at a church within view of Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant, civil rights veteran Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery spoke about the issues currently affecting the people this region. In attendance were many local residents from the rural Shell Bluff community in Burke County and many people from the Atlanta area who arrived in a bus chartered by Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions.

More Details: Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff/BREDL Press Release | Event Flyer

Clean Water

BREDL Statement on Hydrofracking

"The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League opposes shale gas extraction, also known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Describing natural gas as a solution to America’s fossil fuel dependency is misleading and ignores real solutions like conservation, as well as truly clean energy like wind and solar power. Hydrofracking is fraught with environmental, public health, and economic problems. The extraction of the gas from the shale uses toxins injected underground, and releases radium, methane and radon gas which contaminate air, land and water. The gas industry has ignored community concerns and paved its way with campaign contributions and bully tactics, which has resulted in human misery, contamination, foreclosures and lawsuits. North Carolina’s public health, quality of life, and environment must not be sacrificed to this practice and the dirty money which comes with it. There is too much at stake."

Clean Air

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

Clean Air

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 Quality’s (DAQ) decision to release improperly withheld information on emissions produced by South Atlantic Galvanizing’s (SAG) facility in Graham, N.C. SAG had asked the Commission to issue a declaratory ruling against DAQ’s decision. This re-examination of the issue was prompted by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) requesting documents supporting the Winston-Salem Regional Office’s 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 public’s interest.”

Read BREDL Press Release