ISSUES

Supporting Vulnerable Communities of All Races

We provide information on how to even the playing field against fossil fuel companies by focusing on the following issues:

Environmental Justice

  • Clean air, water and soil for all
  • Government transparency and citizen input to proposed local development
  • Corporate and industrial toxics emissions
  • Elimination of nuclear weapons (program since 1997) “#Target 2045”
  • Community pollution
  • Healthy local food and access
  • Pandemic adjustments
  • Environmental racism and racial equity
    • Heired Properties
    • Landfill and toxic dumping
    • Utility cost equity

Climate Change

  • Safe and Clean Energy
    • Replacing nuclear, coal and gas fuel sources
    • No false solutions such as biomass, bridge fuels
    • Apply EJ principals to clean, renewable energy sources
    • Energy and transportation efficiency
  • Land Use & Abuse
    • Urban Sprawl
    • Biodiversity
    • Loss of wildlife
    • Deforestation
    • Consumption patterns

View the latest news, updates and resources by issue:

All Issues
  • All Issues
  • CARE-4-AIR
  • Citizen Input for Local Development
  • Clean Air, Water and Soil
  • Climate Change
  • Community Pollution
  • Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
  • Environmental Justice
  • Land Use & Abuse
  • Racism and Racial Equity
  • Safe and Clean Energy
January 17, 2023 News

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!…

November 6, 2022 Training

Have Fun, Build Your Group and Raise Money!

You can have fun during your meetings and events AND you can build your group AND you can raise money, all at the same time! So, you might ask the question: Besides raising money, WHY should our group fundraise and WHEN should we fundraise?

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October 20, 2022 News

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…

October 12, 2022 Letters

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

September 14, 2022 News

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.

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August 3, 2022 News

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

July 26, 2022 Letters

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

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June 25, 2022 News

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…

June 22, 2022 News

SC woman concerned over new gas pipeline in front of home, officials say it’s legal (WPDE.com)

A woman living in Atlantic Beach reached out to ABC15 with concerns after she said a gas pipeline was installed in front of her home — without notice.

Kathy Andrews said the home she’s lived in for nearly two decades on 32nd Avenue in Atlantic Beach was disrupted a couple of weeks ago.

Andrews said she walked out of her door to see Dominion Energy workers digging a hole in her front yard; something she said she never gave permission or received a notice for.

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June 21, 2022 Letters

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

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.

FERC’s failure to acknowledge the status of Green Hollow Drive as a contributing resource in the Bent Mountain Orchard Rural Historic District is of special concern because Green Hollow Drive has been designated and used as a pipeline access road for the MVP, resulting in alteration of its historic appearance through extensive re-grading and application of gravel.

Read Full Letter