Environmental Justice

The United States Environmental Protection Agency established the Office of Environmental Justice in 1992 because all Americans regardless of race, color, national origin, or economic circumstance should be able to live in a clean, healthy environment.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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June 6, 2022 Letters

BREDL expresses our concern in a letter to NC DEQ Secretary Biser regarding the Chemours Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) method report

Transferring a pollutant from one medium to another is a virtual shell game

Jun. 06, 2022: The Chemours facility has caused massive pollution in the Cape Fear region and the pollution is ongoing. Thousands of people have been impacted.

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June 1, 2022 News

The League Line: Summer 2022

  • Cover: Seeking protection for our local communities is something that we must continue to pursue by Charles Utley
  • BREDL sending representative to Germany for peace delegation by Jenn Galler
  • Director’s Report: Citizens’ responsibility when it comes to pollution by Kathy Andrews
  • EPA takes action on PFAS by Therese Vick
  • Disenfranchisement and its impact on environmental justice by Jason Torian
  • Solar panels in parking lots by Ann Rogers
  • BREDL welcomes Jan Haagensen as Development Director

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May 19, 2022 News

Citizens Urged to Attend the People’s Hearing at Hannah Pamplico High (prnewswire.com)

A public forum will be held at Hannah Pamplico High School, 2055 S Pamplico Highway, on Saturday, May 21 at 1pm to discuss the proposed Dominion Energy pipeline.

Environmentalists say the pipeline will cause harm to residents’ health and to wildlife in an area with an abundance of natural beauty and historical value.

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