MountainTrue Raleigh Report

Issue 18: Thursday, October 8, 2015

It’s the latest edition of the MountainTrue Raleigh Report. In this week’s edition:  aloha, adios and arrivederci – the legislature finally gives it – and us – a rest.

It’s A Wrap
Last Thursday morning about 4 a.m., the General Assembly’s long session adjourned. And a long session it was – only one session has been longer in the past 40 years. Here’s a quick look at what happened.

The budget provided some new funding for open space preservation, but legislators also passed a flurry of provisions that weaken environmental protections. Legislators gutted  the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA), which required an environmental review of public projects using public funds or public lands. Among other provisions, the renewable energy tax credit was allowed to expire and more “terminal groins,” or artificial, hardened structures on the coast, were approved.

A few other environmental happenings (or not happenings) from this session:

• Good news – the “freeze” of the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (REPS), which requires the state’s electric power providers to generate a portion of our electricity needs through renewable energy resources and energy efficiency, did not pass.

• Deer to the Their Hearts: After much angst and debate, the Farm Act of 2015 passed in the final days of the session, including a provision opening the door for deer farming in North Carolina, which wildlife groups and hunting groups fear will speed the arrival of wasting disease to the state.

• New Name, Limited role: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was renamed the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).  The state’s natural resources attractions — the three coastal aquariums, state parks, Museum of Natural Sciences and N.C. Zoo — the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Natural Heritage Program were moved to the newly renamed Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

• Power Outage: Rep. Chuck McGrady’s legislation to begin a stakeholder process for implementing the federal Clean Power Plan did not pass, but neither did the version prohibiting implementation and encouraging legal challenges to the CPP.

• Park It: Legislators approved a $2 billion bond referendum to be placed on the ballot in March. If approved, the bond will allocate $100 million for state parks and attractions, as well as funds for construction projects at the universities and community colleges and water and sewer infrastructure.

Legislative Wrap-Ups
For more info on all the legislation impacting our air, water and natural resources, sign up for our Legislative Wrap-Ups October 27th in Franklin, October 28th in Asheville and October 29 in Hendersonville. You’ll get the skinny on the politics and the policy and learn how you can get involved.

Protecting Polluters
One of the final acts of the very long session was to pass H765, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2015 – also known as the “Polluter Protection Bill.”.  This bill is filled with nasty rollbacks of some of our most important environmental protections, including provisions protecting polluters from penalties, reducing air quality monitors and threatening intermittent streams. For a complete rundown of the offensive sections of this bill, check out this fact sheet.

MountainTrue is one of a number of organizations that have asked Governor McCrory to veto H765. You can join our efforts by calling Governor McCrory at 919-814-2000 and urging him to veto this bad bill. If you get his voicemail, leave a message asking him to veto House Bill 765.The Governor has up to 30 days to decide now that session has ended.

Clearing the Air
Did you catch the op/ed on clean air in The News & Observer written by our own Julie Mayfield? Check it out and take a few minutes to remember the power that citizen activists have on our state and our environment.

Get to Know Your Legislators
Keep your eye on our WNC Legislator Profiles. We continue to update them so you can get to know our legislators better.

General Assembly Passes “Polluter Protection Act”

Late in the evening of Tuesday, September 30, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted on and passed House Bill 765, a piece of legislation that is outright hostile to the environment and the health and safety of the residents of North Carolina.

Dubbed “The Polluter Protection Act”, H765 would, under the premise of “regulatory reform”, accomplish the following:

• shield companies that violated environmental laws from having to pay penalties and would allow them to hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public,

• allow developers to damage without any mitigation intermittent streams which could cause the loss of critical linkages in our stream networks and damage our watersheds, and

• eliminate air quality monitors in at least four mountain counties, reducing the available data regarding air quality and the public’s ability to know whether our air is clean and clear.

The state senate had already passed their version of the bill the night before, so it now goes before Governor Pat McCrory for his authorization. MountainTrue Co-directors Julie Mayfield and Bob Wagner have sent a letter to Governor McCrory outlining the most problematic provisions of H765 and asking him issue a veto in the public’s interest. You can read the letter here [PDF]. Additionally, we are asking supporters and concerned residents to call the Governor and demand a veto.

Regardless of the outcome of this fight, it is important that we educate the public on how our legislators vote when it comes to issues of environmental protection and public health. In order to protect our natural environment and the public, we have to hold politicians accountable come election time.

Here is how your legislators voted on the “Polluter Protection Act”:

Call Gov. McCrory and ask him to veto H765

Last night the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 765, a piece of legislation that is outright hostile to the environment and the health and safety of the residents of North Carolina.

Call on Governor Pat McCrory and ask that he VETO House Bill 765,
Governor McCrory: 919-814-2000
[UPDATE: Calls are flooding in. If you can’t get through
at the number above, try 919-814-2050 and leave a message.]

The bill has been dubbed “The Polluter Protection Act”, and for good reason. Under the premise of “regulatory reform”, H765 would:

• shield companies that violated environmental laws from having to pay penalties and would allow them to hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public,

• allow developers to damage without any mitigation intermittent streams which could cause the loss of critical linkages in our stream networks and damage our watersheds, and

• eliminate air quality monitors in at least four mountain counties, reducing the available data regarding air quality and the public’s ability to know whether our air is clean and clear.

These provisions benefit private interests at great cost to the public.  For more details, Read the letter [PDF] to Governor McCrory from MountainTrue Co-directors Julie Mayfield and Bob Wagner. Download PDF.

Let McCrory know that you do not support House Bill 765.

Call on Governor Pat McCrory and ask that he VETO House Bill 765,
Governor McCrory: 919-814-2000
[UPDATE: Calls are flooding in. If you can’t get through
at the number above, try 919-814-2050 and leave a message.]

Our tourism industry and tens of thousands of jobs throughout the area are dependent on clean rivers, clean air and beautiful, smog-free vistas, and this bill is a giant step in the wrong direction. House Bill 765 would make it even more difficult for citizens and residents to find out what factories, power plants and other industries are putting into our air and water. There can be no justification to hiding from public view information that is essential to public health.

Let your friends and family know and ask them to lend their voice to demand that Governor McCrory do the right thing and veto House Bill 765.

Save the Date! Sunday, October 18: Protect Our Land Picnic

Save the date! The Carolina Land Coalition is having a Protect Our Land Picnic on Sunday, October 18, 2-5 PM. Attend this family-friendly event to enjoy food, fun and take action challenging Duke Energy’s plans!

Date/time: Sunday, October 18, 2-5pm

Location: Historic Henderson County Courthouse, Hendersonville

Who should attend: Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend, because even if power lines won’t run through your property or community, we’ll all pay for this $1.1 billion plan through our utility rates.

Purpose: Stand in unity against Duke Energy’s Western Carolina’s “Modernization” plan and tell elected officials and utility regulators that we oppose this plan. Get up to speed on the latest developments and know all your options for making your voice heard!

Want to help? Sign up to volunteer or donate to help make this event great!

10/6: Fall Scenery Hike with Bob Gale

Join MountainTrue Ecologist & Public Lands Director Bob Gale for a Fall Scenery Hike to remember. We’ll be doing a light trek on the Pilot Cove Loop up to a rock face with a beautiful vista. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see some migrating monarch butterflies surfing the warm thermal wind over the outcrop. Though monarch populations have suffered in recent years, we’ve seen a few more this year. So, keep your fingers crossed. Bob will discuss the challenges to their incredible migrating journey, and will also interpret the flora and fauna along the way.

Click here to register for the event.

This is a 3-3/4 mile round-trip loop, which begins along a creek, goes through old growth and other forest communities, and offers distant views. Bob will discuss forestry practices and guide you on walk through a beaver-altered habitat.

Hiking (and resting time): approximately 4 hours. Involves an initial short if somewhat steep climb and a couple of short uphill climbs along a ridge before descending for the second half of the trip.

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at Earthfare in the Westgate Shopping Center, 66 Westgate Pkwy, Asheville
Cost: Free
Registration Deadline: Monday, October 5th at NOON

Click here to register for the event.

Cane Creek Clean Up