Mercury rule improved, still falls short
Responding to more than 3,000 public comments from citizens, including river keepers, public health professionals, and roughly 1,000 Environment North Carolina members and activists, state officials made key improvements last November to their 2006 Clean Air Mercury Rule. The regulations, however, continue to fall short of the requirements set forth in the nation’s Clean Air Act.

North Carolina’s power plants emit more than 60 percent of the mercury that ends up in the state’s waterways. That pollution has resulted in mercury-related fish consumption advisories throughout the state.

North Carolina regulators initially proposed rules that would make modest cuts in the potent neurotoxin. Responding to comments from citizens and evidence that other states were requiring deeper cuts, officials modified their rules to require plants in the state to reduce the pollutant by more than 80 percent. The rules, however, lack safeguards to ensure that all plants would make deep cuts in the toxic pollutant, contrary to the goals of national law, and do not take effect until 2017.

Analysis details global warming solutions
Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates that global warming is real, that it is affecting us now, and that human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels—are the primary cause.

Science is also clear about what we need to do to address the problem: immediately and significantly reduce emissions of the pollutants that cause global warming. The stakes are high for North Carolina, with its vibrant tourist and agricultural economies—both of which could be severely affected by global warming.

A new Environment North Carolina analysis shows that with improved transportation planning, clean and renewable energy, less polluting cars, and energy efficiency, North Carolina can cut its global warming pollution by percent by 2020, putting us on a path to the reductions of more than 80 percent needed by 2050.

Jordan Lake clean-up behind schedule
More than a year behind schedule, officials will finally begin taking input from the public on a cleanup plan for Jordan Lake this spring.

A favorite spot for fishing and swimming in the Triangle, Jordan Lake will be the first in the state to receive treatment afforded by the 2005 Environment North Carolina-backed Clean Lakes Law. But opposition from city wastewater treatment officials, along with botched water quality tests, delayed development of the lake’s protection plan.

Environment North Carolina is calling on state officials to adopt a clean-up plan that includes protection of existing vegetative buffers to filter out pollutants as well as requirements for existing and future developments in the areas that drain into Jordan Lake.