AT WHAT COST?
Chapel Hill's plan to house residents on coal ash dump

Concerned community members in partnership with ACT Against Coal Ash, Chapel Hill Organization for Clean Energy (CHOCE), Friends of Bolin Creek, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) and Climate Action NC called a public information meeting to address the coal ash hazards in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. (Forum video courtesy of Friends of Bolin Creek)




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

Oct. 12, 2022: 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.


Our most recent bi-weekly podcast:
Winston-Salem Weaver fire air quality worse than reported by agencies


Aug. 03, 2022: 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.



BREDL requests FERC to deny MVP an extension of time

Jul. 26, 2022: 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


BREDL Requests that FERC officially acknowledge Green Hollow Drive as a contributing resource inside the Bent Mountain Orchard Rural Historic District

Jun. 21, 2022: FERC's claim that Green Hollow Drive (incorrectly called "Green Hollow Road" in the Order) is not a contributing resource in the Bent Mountain Orchard Rural Historic District contradicts the findings of The Evaluation Committee of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources


BREDL - Eminent Justice: How a pipeline was cancelled

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League staff and chapter members talk about the Atlantic Coast Pipeline fight. The Dominion Energy and Duke Energy ACP was approved in 2014. Had it been constructed, it would have traversed 550 miles from West Virginia through Virginia to North Carolina. The pipeline companies cancelled the project on July 5, 2020.


STOP THE PIPELINE - STOP THE INJUSTICE
A free online PUBLIC FORUM on natural gas pipelines in South Carolina.

This forum was held on Feb. 27, 2021.

Rev. Charles Utley, Forum Moderator
Featuring Guest Speakers:
Christopher Covington, multi-generation landowner, Pamplico SC
Rebekah Sale, Executive Director, Property Rights and Pipeline Center
Shelley Robbins, Energy and State Policy Director, Upstate Forever


The LEAGUE LINE
Fall 2022 issue

Fall 2022

The League Line: Fall 2022 issue is now available online.

- Cover: A victory for the people by Renee Cail
- Director's Report: An environmental nightmare called eminent domain by Kathy Andrews
- "Forever chemical" GenX found in Roanoke River and local drinking water supply reservoir by Mark Barker
- North and South Forks of the Roanoke River focus of GenX investigation by Ann Rogers
- Firefighters are exposed to toxic PFAS in their personal protective equipment by Therese Vick
- Chapel Hill signs and bus ads removed, raising First Amendment concerns by Jason Torian
- New Mexico - not a sacrifice zone by Jenn Galler
- EPA Risk Management Program proposed rule leaves communities at risk

BREDL welcomes these new chapters

Coalition for a Clean Dan River Region (Pittsylvania Co., VA) - September 2021

Randolph Individuals Saving the Environment (Randolph Co., NC) - September 2021

Pamplico Defense League (Pamplico, Florence Co., SC) - August 2021

Unicoi Clear (Unicoi Co., TN) - January 2021

Find a chapter near you

Coal Ash Disposition
The Alternative for North Carolina

BREDL's technical report which details the dangers of landfilling coal ash and recommends the proven saltstone technology for the coal ash at Duke Energy's fourteen power plants. The report entitled "Coal Ash Disposition: The Alternative for North Carolina," describes the saltstone technology which would encase the coal ash waste and isolate the toxins from the soil, air and water.

View BREDL Technical Report

RESOURCES

Reports

Report on Air and Noise Pollution Reveals Fatal Flaws in Permit for Proposed Buckingham Compressor Station
Dec. 14, 2016: The report, subtitled “Unfair, Illegal and Unjust,” concludes that the Buckingham County Planning Commission failed with respect to its legal obligation to ensure that the facility does not have a disproportionate impact on Buckingham’s African American community.

Noise from Mountain View Speedway Harmful to Boone Quality of Life
Jan. 21, 2016: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released a report on sound pollution and called on the Town of Boone to protect residents from excessive levels of noise from stock car races at the newly opened auto speedway on Roby Green Road. The report, "Noisy Neighbors–Sound Pollution in the High Country", reveals the hazards to mental and physical well-being of residents in neighborhoods near the track.

More Reports:

A list of our reports can be found on our BREDL Reports page.

Fact Sheets

Aug. 26, 2019: BREDL Fact Sheet on Versatile Test Reactors.

Updated Aug 2016 BREDL Fact Sheet - Proposed Buckingham Compressor Station, Buckingham County, VA

May 2016: BREDL Unequal Protection Fact Sheet The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Discriminatory Laws & Regulations

April 2016 BREDL Fact Sheet - Small Modular Reactors

Sept. 2015 BREDL Fact Sheet - Appalachian Materials, LLC Proposed Asphalt Plant in Glendale Springs, NC.

March 2014: BREDL Fact Sheet: "Don't Dump Coal Ash on our Communities"

More Fact Sheets:

A chronological list of Fact Sheets can be found on our BREDL Fact Sheets page.

Educational Tools

Salisbury Health Study
Download the Powerpoint Presentation

Bucket Brigade
Download the Powerpoint Presentation

Statistics for Action
Statistics for Action website


BREDL Partners with TERC
TERC is partnering with environmental action groups in twelve states to advance the quantitative literacy skills needed to understand and solve pressing environmental problems.
More about this partnership.

NoPipeline.net