EPA - NC Policy Of Blocking Citizens From Challenging Pollution Permits Invites Federal Takeover

[hatrack]

North Carolina’s recent tactic of blocking citizens from challenging state permits for industrial polluters could result in a federal takeover of the state’s regulatory program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put state officials on notice that North Carolina’s strategy is putting the state at risk of losing its authority to regulate industrial water pollution and air pollution. Since receiving the warning two weeks ago, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is downplaying the incident as a misunderstanding.

In a letter dated Oct. 30, Heather McTeer Toney, a regional EPA administrator, cautioned department Secretary Donald van der Vaart that the state’s stance in several recent court decisions — that citizen groups did not have standing to challenge air and water quality permitting decisions — was troubling. The letter mentioned court challenges, brought by two environmental organizations and backed by the Southern Environmental Law Center, over permits issued for a proposed cement plant near Wilmington and a limestone quarry on Blounts Creek near Vanceboro.

The EPA regional administrator stated that court rulings prohibiting the groups from seeking judicial review of the permits “cast serious doubt” on whether North Carolina meets minimum federal requirements to protect its residents from environmental pollution. This is the first such warning to North Carolina since the federal government authorized the state to oversee air and water regulation in the 1970s. If the federal government were to follow through, North Carolina would be among a handful of states that have been deemed incapable, or unwilling, to enforce federal anti-pollution laws.


EDIT

http://www.journalnow.com/news/state_region/epa-n-c-risking-federal-takeover-of-environmental-regulation/article_001e0c1e-ecd6-5c5e-a10f-9a85304b271d.html

[Demeter]

1. Sounds like a plan

and sounds like it's necessary.

[appal_jack]

2. Indeed, necessary.

I love NC and am proud to call it home. But since the McCrory election and legislative turnover to 'R,' there has been a war here against the citizenry, against democracy, against the environment, against education, and against all other public infrastructure and resources that support the common good. This war is being waged by the 1%, with their hands firmly upon the levers of power at the state level. In the short term, federal enforcement of voting rights, environmental protections, and other civil rights and liberties will be necessary to protect a bare minimum of opportunity and democracy.

k&r,

-app