NORTH
CAROLINA BREDL CHAPTERS
Alamance County, NC
Be Safe Not Sorry ( BSNS )
In 2007, BSNS organized and joined BREDL to fight the threat of an asphalt plant in Alamance County. Following a well-attended public hearing and much publicity generated by BSNS, The Alamance County High Impact Land Uses/Polluting Industries Ordinance was adopted and blocks not only asphalt plants, but other polluters as well. BSNS keeps a close watch on the community by attending planning board and county commissioner meetings and alerting citizens when polluters threaten. BSNS also continues to work towards controlled emissions of a galvanizing plant that operates next to a child care center.
Group Against Stericycle's Pollution ( GASP ) emeritus
Group Against Stericycle's Pollution, in its campaign against a commercial medical waste incinerator, held an Anti-incineration Day rally at the Alamance County Courthouse, the first public action for group. The local television station interviewed a young mother and the Burlington newspaper printed a favorable story. GASP is challenging Stericycle's Clean Air Act Title V permit and is seeking a good neighbor agreement. Members activities include a booth at a community festival in Graham and a strategy meeting in Wisconsin with other groups working on Stericycle. Martha Hamblin reports the group received a $5,000 grant from Health Care Without Harm. GASP plans a gospel music "Celebration of Clean Air."
Alleghany County, NC
Alleghany Citizens for Environmental Safety (ACES)
concerns with a proposed asphalt plant in Laurel Springs, NC
Anson County, NC
Anson County
Citizens Against Chemical Toxins and Underground
Storage ( CACTUS )
hazardous waste, nuclear waste,
solid waste, hog factories, environmental
education, multiple victories
Ashe
County, NC
BREDL Home
Office
Contacts:
Janet Marsh
, Executive Director
Lou Zeller
, Science Director
BREDL
P.O. Box 88
Glendale Springs, NC 28629
phone: 336-982-2691
fax: 336-982-2954
Ashe Citizens Against Pollution
( ACAP )
Ashe Citizens Against Pollution successfully forced their mountain county to pass a Polluting Industries Ordinance which has survived a prolonged legal assault by an asphalt plant company. ACAP organized to stop an asphalt plant which would have located near residential areas and the county high school. Tri-County Paving sued the county government over the ordinance and lost every time. The ordinance requires 1000 foot setbacks from homes and schools. ACAP members plan to monitor the situation and hold annual barbeque picnics to stay together.
Avery County, NC
Pineola Concerned Citizens
asphalt plant, air quality, water
quality
Avery
Environmental Council emeritus
solid waste, recycling
Bertie County, NC
Bertie
Citizens Action Coalition ( BCAC ) emeritus
solid waste, hog factories,
environmental justice
Brunswick County, NC
Swamp Watch Action Team ( SWAT )
The Swamp Watch Action Team (SWAT) is a grassroots environmental organization formed early in 2000 as a community response to wetland abuse by the pulpwood industry in Brunswick County, North Carolina. SWAT has pushed for investigations by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) into the environmental wrongdoing in the Green Swamp and have requested water testing (from NC) for those communities threatened by forestry herbicide abuse. SWAT continues to press for an end to the use of aerialy sprayed herbicides. SWAT is opposed a mega-dump in Columbus County, in the Green Swamp, right on the Brunswick county line.
Cape Fear Citizens For A Safe Environment
Hugo Neu auto fluff landfill
(formerly Brunswick Citizens For A Safe Environment)
Buncombe County, NC
North
Buncombe Against the Dump ( N-BAD ) emeritus
solid waste
Burke County, NC
Chesterfield Hartland
Environmental Protection Association ( CHEPA )
hazardous waste, solid waste,
land use planning
Burke
Citizens for Environmental Responsibility ( BCER
) emeritus
solid waste, stopped regional
landfill
Camden County, NC
Camden Citizens Action League ( CCAL )
megadump threatens the Dismal Swamp, requires barge shipping in the Intracoastal Waterway
NC Ground Zero emeritus
nuclear waste issues, Southeast
Compact
Caswell County, NC
Concerned
Citizens of Caswell emeritus
solid waste, stopped regional msw
landfill
Columbus County, NC
Friends of the Green Swamp has reported that Columbus County's proposed flood plain amendment was tabled in October at the request of Riegel Ridge. A variance could be allowed only if there is no other landfill site outside the floodplain, and the county's own studies show this not to be the case. The chapter is working closely with the Swamp Watch Action Team. Campaign slogans have included, "No landfills in the floodplain," and "Landfills in the Floodplain isn't just a dumb idea, its illegal." FOGS organized to stop a biological treasure from being selected for a regional solid waste dump. The Green Swamp in coastal North Carolina is recognized by the United Nations' Biosphere Reserve Program. Riegel Ridge is the corporation seeking to build the dump, but state law prohibits landfills in floodplains unless a county grants a variance. Jeff said, "The next couple of months should be very interesting." FOGS posts regular campaign updates on its website.
Chapter Spotlight:
Friends of the Green
Swamp, Columbus County, NC - More details and
updates. (posted Jan. 18, 2003)
Davidson County, NC
Friends of Rich Fork Creek
concerned about Rich Fork Creek
Good
Neighbors of South Davidson emeritus
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of Good Neighbors of South Davidson. The group sued when a chemical plant got illegal satellite annexation and rezoning in their residential and agricultural community. In the course of the fight, the district court ruled in the citizens' favor but the appeals court reversed the decision. BREDL board member Al Murr said he appreciates BREDL's support. John Runkle was their attorney in the case.
Davie County, NC
Davie
Environmental Awareness League ( DEAL )
Davie County, NC, citizens promoting a healthy environment. DEAL organized to fight additional hazardous waste incinerators in NC. Now we promote environmentally sound industries for responsible growth in Davie County.
Key issues: hazardous waste, solid waste recycling, zoning and county planning, residential solar energy, MRS - Monitored Retrievable Storage (of high and low level radioactive nuclear waste)
Contact:
DEAL@MeTyler.com
Duplin County, NC
Citizens for a Safe Environment of Eastern NC (CSE )
Citizens for a Safe Environment succeeded in stopping two solid waste threats in their rural county: an experimental solid waste gasification project and a commercial solid waste landfill. The gasification plant was proposed by Global Waste International. In support of the local campaign, BREDL presented a researched report to the county on the problems of waste gasification technology and Bonnie & Claude Ward contacted officials in Alaska to debunk the company’s claims about a gasification unit in Barrow. Following revelations about the failure of the Alaskan prototype, county officials rejected Global Waste's offer. David Mickey, BREDL Solid Waste Campaign Coordinator, says Citizens for a Safe Environment is now pressing for a zero waste plan. The group has raised about $25,000 in the course of this campaign and plans to hold public forum featuring national experts on zero waste programs. CSE first organized to stop a Waste Industries, Inc. commercial solid waste dump.
Forsyth County, NC
Fight Forsyth/Stokes
landfill
Friends of Blanket Creek Wetlands emeritus
Residents in the Clemmons-Lewisville area of Forsyth County have been working together to persuade Duke Power to relocate a planned transmission line through a large wetland in their neighborhood.
Granville County, NC
Granville
Musicians and Friends emeritus
hazardous waste incineration,
stopped HW incinerator
Granville Residents
Environmental Action Team ( GREAT ) emeritus
hazardous waste, stopped
incinerator
Granville Residents Opposed to
Waste ( GROW ) emeritus
hazardous waste, stopped HW
incinerator
Greene County, NC
Greene
Citizens for Responsible Growth
Ed Jones of Greene Citizens for Responsible Growth reported that 200 people attended a recent meeting on the regional, commercial landfill proposal and not one person supported the plan. He said one person supported a zero waste strategy. The county took no position at the meeting and a formal hearing is to be held. Earlier this year GCRG won a landmark decision in the NC Court of Appeals in the first test of North Carolina's environmental justice statute. The law is written to prevent new landfills near existing landfills with minority or indigent populations. As a result of the suit, the county was to start over with a study of alternative sites. In 1997 the dump company bought options on landfill property and then began its studies, a backwards process which ran afoul of the law. Recently, the company reported on 12 sites, including the site owned by them. They eliminating ten flawed sites, leaving two, one of which was the original location, and they recommended the original site to the county! GCRG organized four years ago to fight an Addington/Republic commercial solid waste dump. Ed Jones says his expectations when he began this struggle were quite different. He thought the fight would take four or five months. Greene Citizens is now in its fifth year of campaigning.
Guilford County, NC
water quality, Deep River protection
Contact:
FRIENDS OF THE DEEP RIVER
PO BOX 624
JAMESTOWN, NC 27282
336-337-0811
Tom Duckwall (treasurer)
TomFDuckwall@cs.com
Transportation and Land Use
Triad Environmental Action ( TEA )
Triad Environmental Action organized local events in Winston-Salem for BREDL's Mock Nuclear Waste Cask tour. TEA opposes a nuclear waste dump in Nevada. TEA has a broad agenda including a zero waste program, a Duke Energy corporate campaign which is bringing shareholders resolutions on energy and environmental issues, and an anti-poison plastic campaign to stamp out PVC use. TEA members organized a public showing of Judith Helfand's award-winning documentary Blue Vinyl.
Watchdogs In the South East ( WISE )
asphalt plant
Neighbors
for Environmental Safety Today ( NEST ) emeritus
Neighbors for Environmental Safety Today in Guilford County, NC is celebrating the closure of the Waste Management, Inc. landfill. NEST defeated WMI expansion seven times.
Chapter Spotlight:
Neighbors for Environmental Safety Today, Guilford County, NC - More details about the fight and closure of the Piedmont Landfill. (posted Nov. 5, 2004)
Neighbors for a Cleaner Colfax Tomorrow ( NFACCT ) emeritus
asphalt plant
Halifax County, NC
Citizens Against Regional
Dumping (CARD) emeritus
Citizens Against Regional Dumping are against
Halifax County’s plans for a regional,
commercial landfill to be operated by WMX in
their community. Residents of Aurelian Springs
are stating their refusal to allow their land to
be taken for an expanded landfill site. UPDATE:
On December 5, 2000, the Halifax Board of
Commissioners released a statement which
said, "The Board of Commissioners will
not consider the proposal from Waste Management
Inc. for a Solid Waste Disposal Franchise.
As a result, the public hearing and action on the
franchise request have been taken off the
agenda. It is the intent of the Halifax
County Commissioners not to consider this
proposal further."
Haywood County, NC
Haywood
Environmental Action League ( HEAL ) emeritus
solid waste, recycling
Citizens for Improving Mountain
Living emeritus
concerns with an auto racetrack
in their community
Beaverdam Against Nuclear
Dumping ( BAND ) emeritus
nuclear waste, stopped nuclear
dump
Henderson County, NC
Citizens Against the Asphalt Plant ( CAAP ) (affiliate) emeritus
Citizens Against the Asphalt Plant got the North Carolina Science Advisory Board chairman to testify that the state's toxicology was unsound. The SAB recommends lowering allowable levels of 32 toxic air pollutants. Janet Stewart, CAAP Chairperson, described it this way, "One thing that keeps us going is if we can win this case it will help the rest of the state, on asphalt and other plants. Its a public health issue." Janet Stewart joined BREDL and started CAAP to stop an asphalt plant near her home and 100 yards from an elementary school. Following a well-attended public hearing and much publicity generated by CAAP, the state issued an air permit. The group's attorney filed against the Division of Air Quality. CAAP challenged the state's computer model because it permitted too much toxic air pollution including formaldehyde and benzene. Janet Stewart, said, "We can no longer keep our windows open because of the fumes coming in." But CAAP continues the fight.
Iredell County, NC
asphalt plant
Jackson County, NC
Save A
Valuable Environment ( SAVE ) emeritus
recycling, solid waste
Lincoln County, NC
Stonewall
Coalition emeritus
air quality, stopped
diesel-electric generator
Macon County, NC
Macon
Against the Megadump emeritus
solid waste landfill issues
Neighbors
Against the Cullasaja Asphalt Plant ( NACAP ) emeritus
An organization of neighbors
fighting for the freedom of their property: to be
undisturbed by the poisons of others. To live the
way they want, and breathe pure air.
Madison County, NC
Madison
Environmental Alliance ( MEA ) emeritus
nuclear waste, solid waste,
recycling, environmental education, forest
issues, stopped nuclear dump, Bluff
Mountain Campaign
McDowell County, NC
McDowell County Chapter of BREDL
McDowell County Chapter of BREDL, founded by Elizabeth O'Nan to stop a proposed polyvinyl chloride plastic plant near Old Fort, NC, reported a victory; the company has withdrawn its proposal. The year-long campaign alerted the county to the toxic dangers of PVC. Elizabeth credits her young daughter, Daisy - her "right-hand man," with major assistance in the victory. The chapter has recently added new polluters to its target list: 1) They filed a Clean Air Act 505 petition on May 2, 2002 against a permit for Trigen, Inc., a power plant which burns carpet scraps, and 2) Jeld-Wen, which is snowing toxic sawdust on the community of Greenlee.
McDowell Environmental Health Authority
McDowell
Citizens Against Regional Dumps ( McCard ) emeritus
solid waste, stopped msw regional
landfill
Mecklenburg County, NC
Citizens for a Healthy Environment ( CHE )
BMWNC medical waste incinerator in Matthews, NC
Group
Responsible for A Clean Environment ( GRACE )
solid waste landfill
Prisoners Of Our Homes ( POOH ) emeritus
air quality, medical waste
incinerator
Mitchell County, NC
Mitchell County Citizens for Clean Air
asphalt plant
Northampton County, NC
Northampton
Citizens Against Pollution ( N-CAP ) emeritus
air quality, hazardous waste, hog
factories, stopped HW incinerator
Onslow County, NC
Protecting Onslow County Neighborhoods Foundation ( PON )
asphalt plant in Jacksonville, NC
Orange County, NC
Sewage Sludge Action Network
sewage sludge
Citizens for Responsible Growth emeritus
asphalt plant
Pender County, NC
Coastal
Environmental Awareness Group ( CEAG ) emeritus
hazardous waste, hog factories,
environmental education, stopped HW
incinerator
Pender Environmental Group ( PEG
) emeritus
Annie Bannerman of Pender Environmental Group in Burgaw, NC reported that the Fund for Southern Communities granted PEG $5,000. She said, "We have been waiting for this grant money. The three year deadline is approaching the statutory limit, and there are 9 families still living in the Burgaw Creek community. All the others left because of contaminated water. The state is coming in to build a highway which will move the others out. We have been dispersed." PEG is seeking a lawyer to bring a case against the state for allowing environmental and public health damage caused by the Lewis Sausage Company's straight-piping of human sewage into Burgaw Creek, upstream of her community. This year PEG and BREDL staff weighed in when Lewis Sausage appealed to the NC Environmental Management Commission to drop fines for eight water quality violations. The fine was left in place owing to PEG's work.
Alliance for Responsible Swine
Industry ( ARSI ) {1992 - 1997} emeritus
multi-county alliance - hog
factories
Person County, NC
concerned about an expansion of the commercial solid waste mega-dump operated by Republic, Inc. in Person County
Polk County, NC
Richmond County, NC
Save Our Abundant Resources ( SOAR )
concerned about a commercial solid waste megadump
FOR
Richmond County's Environment ( FORRCE ) emeritus
nuclear waste, stopped nuclear dump
Rockingham County, NC
Citizens
Alliance for Rockingham's Environment ( CARE ) emeritus
solid waste, recycling
Rowan County, NC
Rowan - Iredell Citizens for a
Clean Environment ( RICCE )
air quality, stopped HW
incinerator
Rowan Citizens Against Pollution
( RCAP ) emeritus
Rowan Citizens Against Pollution turned out in large numbers in August to hear the state's report on risk assessment from asphalt industry facilities near the Milford Hills neighborhood of Salisbury. Dr. Rick Weisler grew up there and has uncovered alarming numbers of brain tumors, pancreatic cancers, multiple myelomas, adenocarcinomas, and other diseases associated with the pollution. In a letter to the state health director, BREDL's Dr. Weisler said, "Based on the evidence I have seen, I believe there can be no reasonable doubt that ExxonMobil, Associated Asphalt, Chevron Asphalt, REA Construction, PAPCO, APAC, Southern States, and the former NCDOT asphalt test lab have adversely impacted worker and/or resident health and welfare." Last year Rick formally petitioned ATSDR to investigate and remediate twenty-six additional sites which were identified in a decade-old assessment of contaminated North Carolina Department of Transportation test sites. In March RCAP and BREDL asked the state Division of Public Health to declare the area a public health nuisance but the division issued a report which downplayed the risk. At the August meeting, Billie Alexander rose to say that there are three brain cancers within one block of her home and that that "seems way too significant to me." Rick asked the federal ATSDR to avoid North Carolina's mistakes and to use better data in its health assessment, "Otherwise, garbage in, garbage out."
Rutherford County, NC
Rutherford County Citizens Against Pollution
concerns with a proposed asphalt plant in Henrietta, NC
Friends
for a Cleaner Rutherford County emeritus
solid waste, stopped msw
landfill
Rutherford
Environmentalists Against Pollution ( REAP ) emeritus
Rutherford Environmentalists
Against Pollution is a not for profit grass roots
organization concerned with the effect of air
quality on our health. REAP's main purpose is to
peacefully protest poisoning of our air and to
educate the public.
Current Issue: The county
commissioners along with 1,600 citizens and two
medical doctors have joined REAP in asking the
state of North Carolina for a long term weather
study before allowing another asphalt plant . The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
also requested North Carolina's Department of Air
Quality to reduce it's air pollution by 30%. The
state of North Carolina has refused to listen and
continues to permit asphalt plants not only in
Rutherford County but throughout the state.
REAP
P.O. Box 188
Bostic, NC 28018
email: reap@blueridge.net
Sampson County, NC
Concerned
Citizens of Sampson County emeritus
solid waste landfill
Scotland County, NC
mega landfill proposed in region
Chapter Spotlight: Scotland County of Tomorrow, Scotland County, NC
Stokes County, NC
Hickory
Alliance emeritus
The Hickory
Alliance is a group of concerned citizens
dedicated to preserving the environment and
quality of life of the Northwest Piedmont by
preventing the construction and operation of a
high capacity chip mill to be located in Pine
Hall, Stokes County, North Carolina.
Surry County, NC
Citizens Against the Privatization of Public Services ( CAPPS )
Citizens Against the Privatization of Public Services is opposed to Waste Industries, Inc.'s attempt to buy the Surry County, NC landfill from the county. On Sept. 29, 2003, the Surry County Board of Commissioners broke off negotiations with Waste Industries Inc. concerning the Surry County Landfill.
Citizens Alliance for a Clean, Healthy Economy ( CACHE )
fibrowatt
Swain County, NC
Wake-Up! (
I-TSI-YE-GI ) emeritus
solid waste, stopped regional
landfill, orphan dumps, environmental education,
tribal sovereignty
Union County, NC
Group Against Sheaffer's Pollution ( GASP )
Group Against Sheaffer's Pollution has waged a multi-faceted campaign against the Town of Marshville's and Sheaffer International's plan to construct and operate an experimental waste treatment facility. Serving Marshville and a Pilgrim's Pride intensive poultry operation, the facility would rely on the spraying of human and poultry waste on farmland. GASP's campaign has included legal action to challenge the faulty permit and deceptive buffer agreements, creative radio and newspaper ads, turnout to town meetings and hearings, public records requests under the North Carolina statute, researching and spotlighting the company's abysmal track record in Virginia, and rallies and parades. The centerpiece of one parade was a float showcasing an outhouse representing Sheaffer's "new technology." The chapter has used signs effectively: one read "Gasp now so you can breathe later."
Chapter Spotlight: Group
Against Sheaffer's Pollution, Union County, NC - More details, contacts, and download the GASP brochure in our Chapter Spotlight section. (posted 11/16/02)
Wake County, NC
Residents Against the Landfill ( RAL ) emeritus
Residents Against the Landfill are doing publicity and more fundraising for a legal campaign to stop a county landfill. John Runkle is the attorney in the environmental justice case. John Allen, president of RAL reported, "We expect to win the verdict." For three years RAL has organized community opposition to a dump in Holly Springs, NC. The group coordinated a Citizen Advisory Committee on solid waste and pressed Holly Springs not to issue a franchise permit.
Citizens for Responsible Government in Wake County emeritus
concerned about the environmental contamination which would result if a new waste water treatment plant is constructed in their community.
Watauga County, NC
Mountain
People Incorporated ( MPI ) emeritus
air quality, stopped
diesel-electric generator
Citizens
Against Pollution ( CAP )
emeritus
Citizens Against Pollution in Watauga have racked up another victory against an asphalt plant within the extra territorial jurisdiction of the Town of Boone. CAP leaders have helped other communities across North Carolina by pushing for stronger regulation of asphalt plants and other smokestack industries.
Wilkes County, NC
Wilkes Environmental Action
League ( WEAL )
recycling, water quality,
environmental education, hog factories
Roaring
River Against the Dump emeritus
solid waste, wood chip
mills
Community Action to Repair the
Environment ( CARE ) emeritus
radioactive and hazardous waste
clean-up, won clean-up of radioactive dump
Yadkin County, NC
Citizens
for Yadkin County's Environment emeritus
hog factories
SOUTH
CAROLINA BREDL CHAPTERS
Chester County, SC
incinerator
Horry County, SC
Horry Environmental Action Team ( HEAT )
asphalt plant
Marlboro County, SC
Citizens for Marlboro County
mega-dumps
Chapter Spotlight: Citizens for Marlboro County - Read more about their fight to keep a proposed megadump out of Marlboro County. (posted 04/16/08)
Orangeburg County, SC
Citizens Organization for Rights and Empowerment ( CORE ) (affiliate)
Community Organization for Rights and Empowerment reported that they are opposing three Clean Air Act Title V permits near Holly Hill, South Carolina. Virginia Townsend, President of CORE, says that nine members of her family died in last year in the Boyer community. They had body sores and rashes. Virginia described the pollution as "Something so bad in the air it took my breath." She said it smelled like gunpowder and that two days later her face broke out. People three miles away reported smelling it. She said Boyer residents are in terrible predicament. Ms. Townsend appreciates the guidance from Lou and Janet Zeller who came to the public hearing on Blue Circle cement plant and also delivered comments on the Georgia Pacific fiberboard plant. CORE is considering becoming a chapter of BREDL.
Spartanburg County, SC
Foothills
Action Committee for the Environment ( FACE ) emeritus
asphalt plant pollution, air
quality
York County, SC
Fort Mill Citizens Action Group ( FMCAG )
Fort Mill Citizens Action Group has staved off a natural gas/diesel electric generating plant in the residential community of York County, South Carolina. The group challenged Calpine's proposal with the South Carolina Public Services Commission, citing excessive air pollution, the company's financial instability, and the lack of need for the power plant. Merchant plants are electric generating facilities that serve any location in the market. One plant opponent said, "Someone else gets the electricity while we get the pollution." Members of FMCAG have been active in opposing the use of plutonium fuel at Duke's McGuire and Catawba nuclear plants and the plutonium fuel factory and new weapons plant at the Savannah River Site.
VIRGINIA
BREDL CHAPTERS
Albemarle County, VA
In response to Dominion Resources early site permit request for new nuclear power plants at the North Anna facility in Louisa County, VA, concerned citizens in Louisa and the surrounding area have founded PACE - the Peoples' Alliance for Clean Energy. PACE is committed to stopping the construction of new reactors and replacing these plans with clean energy sources and conservation techniques.
Franklin County, VA
Grayson County, VA
Graysonites
For Progressive Change emeritus
air quality, solid waste
incineration
Henry County, VA
Citizens for Clean Environment ( CFCE )
tire incinerator
rock quarry, asphalt plant
Louisa County, VA
Pittsylvania County, VA
Piedmont Residents In Defense of the Environment ( PRIDE ) emeritus
Wyndy Gilb organized Piedmont Residents In Defense of the Environment to oppose the hazardous waste-burning at the Solite Cascade aggregate kiln. The group is doing a door-to-door health survey and raising funds locally for the campaign. Together PRIDE and BREDL filed a Clean Air Act 505 petition to the federal EPA, citing numerous flaws in Virginia's air permit. When the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality announced that it planned to grant a Clean Air Act Title V permit to the company, BREDL requested a public hearing. DEQ held the hearing in Cascade, Virginia; many local citizens who attended found DEQ officials unresponsive to their requests. After the hearing these people formed PRIDE and joined BREDL. PRIDE's goal is to end the poisoning of their community. PRIDE plans to connect with others who are concerned with a hazardous waste cement kiln operated by Giant Cement in South Carolina.
Roanoke County, VA
Virginians
For Appropriate Roads (VAR)
Virginians for Appropriate Roads
(VAR) is a grassroots organization working to
protect the integrity of our farmlands, forests
and rural communities by supporting fiscally
conservative and environmentally sound
transportation policies. VAR is opposed to the
proposed new terrain I-73 highway in southwest
Virginia, and to similar highway projects which
threaten our region with irreparable cultural and
environmental damage, and which levy an
unacceptable financial burden on the citizens of
Virginia and the Nation. Upgrading and repairing
existing roads and bridges, and in particular
Route 220 from Roanoke to the North Carolina
border, is the responsible way to meet the
Roanoke Region's highway needs.
Virginians for Appropriate Roads reported that the final environmental impact statement on I-73 through Roanoke has been delayed. VAR efforts and consultation work with Harry Reem , a historic preservation consultant from Arlington, VA, has led to a section of S.E. Roanoke to be eligible for historic designation. The approved I-73 route would traverse this section. Now, VDOT will need to look at alternatives to avoid this area. VAR is also seeking eligibility status for another community which would be eliminated by the I-73 route. Andrea Ferster, a public affairs lawyer in Washington, D.C., is assisting VAR. VAR dubbed I-73 "The Incredible Shrinking Interstate." West Virginia, the originator of the proposed highway, is not building to interstate standards and in North Carolina only a few pieces may be constructed.
Virginians For Appropriate
Roads
P.O. Box 5272
Roanoke, VA 24012
Contact:
Ann
Rogers
Chapter Spotlight: Virginians for Appropriate Roads - Read the May 2004 VAR newsletter. (posted 05/13/04)
Salem, VA
Citizens for Positive Growth
proposed asphalt plant
Smyth County, VA
Mountain Heritage Alliance is working with the Virginia Wilderness Committee, SELC, and Virginia Forest Watch to promote and preserve potential Wilderness areas in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area during the ongoing Jefferson National Forest Plan Revision. MHA has hiked, mapped, and photographed four candidate areas in the MRNRA. MHA organized in the early 1990's and mounted a successful campaign to stop the four-lane expansion of U.S. 58 through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. MHA member and BREDL SW Virginia Vice-President Mark Barker has submitted formal comments on new air permits at fossil fueled power plants. With help from BREDL staff, Cogentrix's 1100 MW power plant has been challenged. This is one of the biggest proposed gas-fired plants in Virginia. The permit is now on hold. Mark and BREDL have filed comments on the largest polluter in Virginia, the Clinch River coal-fired power plant operated by American Electric Power. The issues raised included plant modifications which resulted in larger air emissions which should have triggered prevention of significant deterioration requirements of the Clean Air Act. Mark utilized legal documents from New York State, which had also filed suit against AEP. Mark also commented on statewide power plant impacts to the State Corporation Commission.
Contacts:
Tom Davenport
P.O.B. 936
Damascus, VA 24236
Phone: 540-475-5054
Mark
Barker
1828 Brandon Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
Phone: 540-342-5580
Mountain Empire Environmental
Team ( MEET ) emeritus
air quality, superfund toxic
clean-up, stopped incinerator
Wythe County, VA
Wythe Environmental Action Group ( WEAG ) emeritus
asphalt plant
MARYLAND
BREDL CHAPTERS
Baltimore, MD
People Against A Radioactive Chesapeake
Calvert County, MD
People Against A Radioactive Chesapeake ( PAARC )
Opposed to the construction and operation of the proposed nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 in Maryland.
TENNESSEE
BREDL CHAPTERS
Cumberland County, TN
Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team ( (BEST)
proposed new nuclear power plants at the TVA Bellefonte facility
Hamilton County, TN
Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team
Johnson County, TN
Watauga Watershed Alliance (WWA)
Formerly known as Johnson County Citizens Committee for Clean Air and Water (J4CAW), Watauga Watershed Alliance is concerned about a dairy CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) proposed in their community.
Washington County, TN
Citizens
for Responsible Government ( CRG ) emeritus
solid waste
ALABAMA
BREDL CHAPTERS
Jackson County, AL
Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team
GEORGIA
BREDL CHAPTERS
Richmond County, GA
BREDL Staff
Community Organizer
In Augusta, Georgia we have no chapter yet but BREDL community organizer Charles Utley is campaigning against toxic and radioactive pollution from the Savannah River Site weapons production plants. He reported that his community has high death rates. Charles is on the mayor's brownfield commission and he is working to unite black and white communities on these issues. Charles said, "It's an ongoing process, but being part of BREDL gives us key information for this campaign."
Contact:
Charles Utley
Phone: 706-772-5558
Burke County, GA
The Shell Bluff Concerned Citizens
concerned about proposed two new nuclear reactors at Vogtle Nuclear Plant
Earth Stewardship -
Environmental Democracy - Social Justice -
Community Empowerment
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