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BREDL Chapters
The Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League has or has had chapters
in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Under the BREDL banner, thousands of
concerned citizens have made their mark for
environmental justice. Our chapters have raised
public awareness and have won many battles
against environmentally damaging projects and
proposals throughout the southeast. These have
ranged from landfill expansion, coal ash dumps, high and
low-level nuclear dumps, natural gas pipelines, dirty energy, four-lane highways, and clearcut logging in our
national forests. Below, check out each
BREDL chapter and the issues involved. Also, please check out our Chapter Spotlight section for more details on our chapters. North Carolina | South Carolina | Virginia | Maryland | Tennessee | Alabama | Mississippi | Georgia |
Alleghany Citizens for Environmental Safety (ACES)emeritus
concerns with a proposed asphalt plant in Laurel Springs, NC
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Pee Dee Water, Air, Land and Lives (Pee Dee WALL)active
{formerly known as Anson County Citizens Against Chemical Toxins and Underground Storage (CACTUS)} |
BREDL Home Office
Contact: |
Cape Fear Citizens For A Safe Environmentactive
Hugo Neu auto fluff landfill |
Save Linville Gorge Wildernessactive
We are a growing coalition of citizens that see the U.S. Forest Service's prescribed burns in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area as proposed in the Grandfather Restoration Project as a transgression of the purpose of Wilderness.
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Chesterfield Hartland Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA)emeritus
hazardous waste, solid waste, land use planning
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Burke Citizens for Environmental Responsibility (BCER)emeritus
solid waste, stopped regional
landfill
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Camden Citizens Action League (CCAL)emeritus
megadump threatens the Dismal Swamp, requires barge shipping in the Intracoastal Waterway
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Protect Caswellactive
concerns regarding quarry and asphalt/concrete plant
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Chapel Hill Organization for Clean Energy (CHOCE)active
Concerned about unhealthy and unsustainable combustion energy (currently coal, gas, pellets, and methane) used in the UNC on-site power plant facilities and the coal ash disposal site located under the Chapel Hill police station.
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Friends of the Green Swamp ( FOG )emeritus
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.
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Triad Environmental Actionemeritus
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.
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Voice of Triad Residents (VOTR)emeritus
Transportation and Land Use
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Friends of the Deep River (FODR)emeritus
water quality, Deep River protection
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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.
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Iredell Citizens Against Asphalt Plants (ICAAP)active asphalt plant
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EnvironmentaLEE (ELEE)active
Dedicated to preventing fracking and to protecting the environment and educating the public about environmental issues.
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Sustainable Madisonactive
concerned about an asphalt plant
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Madison Environmental Alliance (MEA)emeritus
nuclear waste, solid waste,
recycling, environmental education, forest
issues, stopped nuclear dump, Bluff
Mountain Campaign
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Protect All Children's Environmentemeritus
Established in 1987 for people poisoned by the now-banned pesticide, Chlordane, PACE exists to give comfort and support. Through PACE, pesticide victims provide support to fellow survivors on an all-volunteer, not-for-profit basis.
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McDowell Citizens Against Regional Dumps (McCard)emeritus
solid waste, stopped msw regional
landfill
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Northampton Citizens Against Pollution (N-CAP)emeritus
air quality, hazardous waste, hog
factories, stopped HW incinerator
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Chapel Hill Organization for Clean Energy (CHOCE)active
Concerned about unhealthy and unsustainable combustion energy (currently coal, gas, pellets, and methane) used in the UNC on-site power plant facilities and the coal ash disposal site located under the Chapel Hill police station.
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Coastal Environmental Awareness Group (CEAG)emeritus
hazardous waste, hog factories,
environmental education, stopped HW
incinerator
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Alliance for Responsible Swine Industry (ARSI) {1992 - 1997}emeritus
multi-county alliance - hog
factories
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Person County People Rising In Defense of Ecology (PC PRIDE)active
concerned about an expansion of the commercial solid waste mega-dump operated by Republic, Inc. in Person County
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Woodsdale Concerned Citizens Groupactive
concerned about a rock quarry and asphalt plant in Person County
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Concerned Citizens of Richmond Countyactive
concerned about increased pollution caused by the expansion of a combustion turbine complex
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Rutherford County Citizens Against Pollutionemeritus
concerns with a proposed asphalt plant in Henrietta, NC
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Scotland County Of Tomorrow (SCOT)emeritus
mega landfill proposed in region
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Wake-Up! (I-TSI-YE-GI)emeritus
solid waste, stopped regional
landfill, orphan dumps, environmental education,
tribal sovereignty
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Group Against Sheaffer's Pollution (GASP)emeritus
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."
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Citizens for Responsible Government in Wake Countyemeritus
concerned about the environmental contamination which would result if a new waste water treatment plant is constructed in their community.
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Watauga Citizens for Local Controlactive
Concerned about legislation which has removed Boone's right to establish extra territorial jurisdictions (ETJs).
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Community Action to Repair the Environment (CARE)emeritus
radioactive and hazardous waste
clean-up, won clean-up of radioactive dump
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Wilkes Environmental Action League (WEAL)emeritus
recycling, water quality,
environmental education, hog factories
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Citizens for Marlboro Countyemeritus
Chapter Spotlight: Citizens for Marlboro County - Read more about their fight to keep a proposed megadump out of Marlboro County. (posted 04/16/08)
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Earth Alliesemeritus
Frederick, Warren & Clarke counties
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Preserve Floydemeritus
Citizens Preserving Floyd County, working with other local citizens, to stop pipelines in/across Virginia.
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Preserve Franklinactive
Preserve Franklin has chosen its name and its mission to be in synch with others which lie along the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline route.
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Virginians for Appropriate Roadsemeritus
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. |
People for a Clean Environment (PCE)emeritus
Alleghany Co., NC and Grayson Co., VA
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Fieldale and Carver Environmental Society (FACES)emeritus
rock quarry, asphalt plant
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Peoples' Alliance for Clean Energyemeritus |
Piedmont Residents In Defense of the Environment (PRIDE) - {2011 - current}active
They are fighting the reinstatement of uranium mining in Virginia and the creation of a uranium mining and milling operation at Coles Hill, in Pittsylvania County, VA.
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Pittsylvania County Preservation Leagueactive
Concerned about the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Extension
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Preserve Bent Mountain/Roanokeactive
Preserve Bent Mountain/Roanoke is a citizen advocacy group (based in Roanoke, Virginia) formed in opposition to the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP). We maintain that the placement of this pipeline will adversely affect the quality of life in all areas it transects. Our mission is the following:
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Virginians For Appropriate Roads (VAR)emeritus
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. |
Salem, VA |
Mountain Heritage Alliance (MHA)emeritus 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. |
Mountain Empire Environmental Team (MEET)emeritus
air quality, superfund toxic
clean-up, stopped incinerator
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Earth Alliesemeritus
Frederick, Warren & Clarke counties
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People Against A Radioactive Chesapeake (PAARC)emeritus Baltimore, MD and Calvert Co., MD
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Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST)active
Cumberland Co, TN, Hamilton Co., TN & Jackson Co., AL
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Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST)active
Cumberland Co, TN, Hamilton Co., TN & Jackson Co., AL
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Shady Valley Neighbors for Clean Air and Wateremeritus
fumigant agricultural chemicals being sprayed on crops and soil erosion
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Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST)active
Cumberland Co, TN, Hamilton Co., TN & Jackson Co., AL
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Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluffactive
concerned about proposed two new nuclear reactors at Vogtle Nuclear Plant
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Madison County Clean Power Coalitionactive
Madison County Clean Power Coalition formed to find solutions to problems associated with the GRP Madison Biomass Power Plant. Our mission is to advocate for communities polluted by the processing and burning of toxic creosote treated railroad ties used as fuel for power generation. Our goal is to stop GRP from burning railroad ties and burn only untreated wood as promised. We also are working to mitigate air, water, land, noise, and light pollution resulting from the plant.
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BREDL Staff
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Earth Stewardship - Environmental Democracy - Social Justice - Community Empowerment |