BREDL PRESS RELEASES

April 11, 2008: Groups Support Sewage Sludge Investigation - Today the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League hailed Senator Barbara Boxer’s decision to hold Senate hearings on toxics found in drinking water and sewage sludge. The League joined with 68 public interest groups from several states around the country in support of the investigation by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Read BREDL Press Release

April 3, 2008: Bellefonte Nuclear Opponents Speak Out At Hearing - Read BEST Press Release and see photos

April 1, 2008: Environmental Group Challenges State To Protect Communities From Dirty Renewable Energy Plants - The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL), a long-time critic of exemptions and loopholes in North Carolina’s air quality program, yesterday called on the state to exercise leadership in the development of clean renewable energy. Legislation enacted by the General Assembly in 2007 mandated the use of swine waste and poultry litter to generate electricity and other biomass fuels are allowed under the program. Read BREDL Press Release

Jan. 23, 2008: First State-Held Public Hearing to Take Place in NC on Land Application of Sewage Sludge - Read BREDL Press Advisory

PC PRIDE Files Legal Challenge to Special Use Permit for Upper Piedmont Environmental Landfill - Jan. 3, 2008: BREDL chapter PC PRIDE (Person County People Rising in Defense of Ecology) has filed a legal challenge in superior court against the December 3rd decision made by the North Carolina Person County Commissioners. The commissioners voted to grant a special use permit to Republic Services of North Carolina LLC for an expansion of the Upper Piedmont Environmental Landfill.
PC PRIDE Press Release | View Court Petition

Reasons for the legal action include:
- The expansion of the landfill is not in harmony with the existing agricultural and residential uses in the Mount Tirzah area where the landfill is located.
- The proposed expansion will constitute a nuisance to the members of PC PRIDE and other members of the public.
- The property owners adjacent to and in close proximity to the landfill and proposed expansion have suffered losses of property values and an interference with health, safety and general welfare.
- PC PRIDE members were not given a fair and unbiased hearing.

More info: www.pcpride.org

Jan. 2, 2008: On Friday, December 28th, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a petition against the Virginia's approval of a water permit for the North Anna nuclear power station (NAPS) located near Charlottesville.

The League's petition states: The Board's re-issuance of this Permit was in violation of Virginia's State Water Control Law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System, as well as other laws and regulations governing water quality. Specifically, state and federal laws and regulations require regulation of and limitations on thermal pollution discharges into Virginia's waters. There was ample evidence presented to the Board and DEQ as contained in the record which demonstrated that thermal pollution discharges from NAPS into Lake Anna are causing and contributing serious harm to the lake and to Virginia citizens' use and enjoyment of that natural resource. Despite the mandate under state and federal law and the record evidence of the thermal pollution problem in Lake Anna from NAPS, this Permit contains virtually no limits at all on thermal pollution. For the reasons stated in this Petition for Appeal, BREDL asks this Court to suspend and set aside the Permit and to remand the Permit to the Board and DEQ for further proceedings consistent and in compliance with federal and state water laws and regulations.
BREDL Press Release | View Appeal

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May 2008: BREDL Factsheet: Stop Incinerators and Waste-to-Energy Burners

Help Stop Nuclear Power in Virginia!
Do You Live 50 miles from the North Anna Nuclear Plant?

Dominion-Virginia Power has submitted an application to add a third nuclear power plant at its North Anna Nuclear Station in northern Virginia. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is challenging this permit for health and safety reasons. If you are within the 50-mile zone, you may join in this effort.

Deadline: May 9, 2008

North Anna 50-mile map and factsheet | Declaration of Standing
FAQs about Legal Declaration of Standing | BREDL Membership Form

May 2008 Factsheet: New Nuclear Power Plants in South Carolina? - Duke Energy has applied to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to build and operate two nuclear plants on the Broad River near Gaffney, South Carolina. The deadline for comments on environmental impacts of a nuclear power plant on this area’s air, water, and public health is May 20, 2008.

League files Motion for Delayed Deadline in North Anna nuclear license

On April 28, 2008 the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a legal motion with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to postpone deadlines for the North Anna Power Station construction and operation license. Dominion Virginia Power plans to add a third nuclear reactor at its plant in central Virginia.

Unless a new deadline is granted, the public will have had only three weeks to review the necessary documents to intervene in the licensing process.

Federal administrative procedures require that the time be no less than 60 days. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is ignoring its stated goal of providing "ample opportunities for members of the public." We know that there are fundamental safety questions which must be addressed. A previous Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision on North Anna said these safety issues are "unresolved." The public needs time to investigate. For these and other reasons, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed this motion.

Read April 28 Legal Motion

April 22, 2008: BREDL comments on Sampson County’s proposed tax incentives for Fibrowatt LLC.

Public Comment Deadline May 30, 2008
Permit renewal to land apply sewage sludge in 6 counties

Couldn't Make the May 13, 2008 meeting in Burlington?
Send your comments by May 30 to:
NC Division of Water Quality c/o Ed Hardee
Aquifer Protection Section/Land Application Unit
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1636
(919) 715-6189 OR e-mail: ed.hardee@ncmail.net
Talking Points on Sewage Sludge | BREDL Recommendations for Permitting Sludge | Press Advisory

April 18, 2008: BREDL's comments on the Siler City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (Chatham County, NC).

BREDL Files Supplemental Motion to Suspend License Process at TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
Action supports Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team

April 2, 2008: Recently, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated that is unable to go forward with a key portion of the safety and environmental review required for Tennessee Valley Authority's Bellefonte nuclear power plant license. An inspection by NRC found three violations which TVA must address. Critical information lacking includes data on surface water flow and earthquakes. However, the NRC has not halted the process for approving TVA's license. Therefore, on April 2, 2008 we filed a motion asking NRC to either suspend the hearing process or delay the deadline for the public to intervene.

We believe it would be fundamentally unfair for the NRC to require interested citizens and public interest organizations to review and comment on an incomplete document, an application to build and operate the first nuclear power plant in the 21st Century. On February 29th, Louise Gorenflo of the Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustanability Team, a chapter of BREDL, filed a similar request based on other omissions in the TVA's application. Supplemental Motion

March 31, 2008: David Mickey's comments on the NC Environmental Management Commission’s development of environmental standards for renewable energy facilities in North Carolina. 

March 2008: BREDL Brochure - "Neighbor-to-Neighbor:" What Do You Think About Spreading Sewage Sludge on Farmland?

March 2008: BREDL Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) fact sheet:
No to Bellefonte Nuclear Units, Yes to Energy Efficiency and Renewables

Feb. 29, 2008: BREDL Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) letter to NRC requesting a suspension of the notice of hearing regarding new nuclear power plants at Bellefonte.

Feb. 15, 2008: BREDL requests Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors to abandon its ongoing effort to open a new nuclear power station at the Bellefonte site in Jackson County, Alabama.

View BREDL's Comments: Janet Marsh's comments | Lou Zeller's comments

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