News

  • Duke First Amendment Clinic Assists Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League with Long-Delayed Public Records Request

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2023

    Duke First Amendment Clinic Assists Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League with Long-Delayed Public Records Request

    Request was sent to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in September 2022

    North Carolina— After an almost nine-month wait, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) finally provided public records requested by Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in September 2022. The records requested were regarding the agency’s efforts to communicate with the public on the health advisories issued in June 2022 for four PFAS—GenX, PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS. This is not the first instance that DEQ has taken an unreasonable amount of time to respond to public records requests. For example, BREDL finally received records in April of this year—after almost 11 months.

    The Duke First Amendment Clinic submitted a “demand letter” to the DEQ on May 30th, 2023, and the records were provided on May 31. Therese Vick, who requested the documents on behalf of BREDL said: “We are very appreciative for the Duke First Amendment Clinic’s assistance with our public records request. Organizations like ours often do not have resources to obtain legal assistance.” Vick continued, “BREDL works directly with impacted communities, and it is vital to be able to obtain public records in a reasonable amount of time. Almost nine months is not a reasonable amount of time. Access to public records is essential to a healthy democracy.”

    The First Amendment Clinic “was delighted to help BREDL with its document requests,” said Clinic Director Sarah Ludington. “We recently hired a staff attorney whose priority is helping citizens and journalists with public records requests. We hope to help many others.”

    About the Clinic: “The public mission of the First Amendment Clinic at Duke Law is to protect and advance the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition. The clinic advises and represents individuals and groups with First Amendment concerns or claims who cannot afford the assistance of lawyers with specialized First Amendment expertise.”  You can contact the Duke First Amendment Clinic at: firstamendmentclinic@law.duke.edu

    About BREDL: Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is a grassroots environmental organization that works with communities across the Southeastern United States. www.BREDL.org

    #publicrecords #PFAS #FOIA #transparency #ncpol

  • BREDL Careers: Social Media and Content Manager

    Digital/Social Media Marketing Position

    Qualifications

    • Must be a United States citizen and located in the U.S.
    • 2+ years of experience with social media creation and marketing tools like Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok
    • Experience as a social media manager
    • Able to share past social media content to highlight posting style.
    • Strong communication, multitasking and analytical skills

    Responsibilities

    • The ideal candidate will create and maintain a strong online presence for BREDL through our website and marketing tools.
    • They will implement online marketing strategies like e-newsletters through services like Constant Contact and through social media accounts in an effort to increase brand awareness and fundraising.
    • Additionally, this individual will understand the target audience and create an appropriate strategy to reach this group.
    • This individual will also interact with followers who comment on posts and donate to BREDL.
    • This position will report to our Executive Director and also work alongside BREDL staff members.

    Please send your resume and samples of your work to Kandrews@BREDL.org.

  • The League Line: Spring 2023

    • Cover: Winston-Salem residents seek legislative changes in wake of fertilizer plant fire
    • Director’s Report: Understanding Climate Change and Global Warming means taking action!
    • There is no away for PFAS…
    • BREDL’s Renee Cail honored at International Women’s Day 4th Annual Recognition Breakfast
    • BREDL seeks MVP compliance with Clean Water Act via LiDAR
    • The Last Frontier
    • PFAS public notification bill dies in VA General Assembly

    Read Issue

  • BREDL Sends Letter to North Carolina Science Advisory Board (SAB) on PFAS

    On April 7, 2023, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League sent a letter to the SAB requesting that they recommend that the Department of Environmental Quality take immediate action to notify the public about PFAS contamination in their drinking water.

    Read Full Letter

  • The League Line: Winter 2023

    • Cover: BREDL Awarded Major EPA Grant
    • Director’s Report: Corruption keeps fossil fuel industry strong
    • One year after fertilizer plant fire, questions remain in Winston-Salem
    • Who’s helping who? We have questions!
    • Community campaign drives court battle
    • Roanoke River GenX contamination source found
    • Activist to activists
    • Photos: National Pipeline Eminent Domain Conference

    Read Issue

  • The League Line: Fall 2022

    • Cover: A Victory for the People!
    • Director’s Report: An environmental nightmare called eminent domain.
    • “Forever chemical” GenX found in Roanoke River and local drinking water supply reservoir
    • North and South Forks of the Roanoke River focus of GenX investigation
    • Firefighters are exposed to toxic PFAS in their personal protective equipment
    • Chapel Hill signs and bus ads removed, raising First Amendment concerns
    • New Mexico – not a sacrifice zone EPA Risk Management Program proposed rule leaves communities at risk

    Read Issue

  • BREDL sends letter to NC DEQ Secretary regarding notification of water customers regarding PFAS in drinking water

    BREDL has found that some water systems are not notifying their customers when PFAS is found in drinking water – even when concentrations are above the EPA health advisory limits. The excuse of not having statutory authority to require that water systems notify their customers is not acceptable.

    We are requesting that NC DEQ notify the public whenever PFAS contaminants are found in drinking water.

    Read Full Letter

  • BREDL To Host Urgent Community Meeting on Dominion Energy Gas Pipeline Proposal (prnewswire.com)

    Dominion Energy, one of the nation’s top polluters, has immediate plans to condemn the land of several African-American heirs and working class citizens as part of their proposed pipeline project, which would run along the Great Pee Dee River and through several communities, including Pamplico. To address these urgent issues and build continued community support, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League will host a meeting on Saturday, September 24 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Pamplico Public Library, which is located at 100 Main Street in Pamplico.

    Read Press Release

  • Winston-Salem Weaver fire air quality worse than reported by agencies

    The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has released a report which shows that hazardous air quality during the Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire was downplayed.

    The report Winston-Salem Weaver Fertilizer Plant Fire – Analysis of Publicly Disseminated Air Quality Information During Facility Fire Incident highlights instances when local officials told the public that the air quality was okay and pollutants were just “irritants” when, in fact, levels of Particulate Matter 2.5 were in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous and very unhealthy categories.

    Read Press Release  Read Report

  • BREDL requests FERC to deny MVP an extension of time

    In our comments submitted to FERC, BREDL: (1) Requests that FERC deny request from Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP, LLC) for an extension of time until October 13, 2026 to complete construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) (2) In the event that MVP, LLC is granted an extension of time to complete construction of the MVP, BREDL requests that:

    • Revised Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) and Stormwater Management (SWM) plans for the MVP be a condition of the requested extension
    • consideration of cumulative aquatic impacts of building both the MVP and the Southgate extension be a condition of the requested extension

    Read Full Letter