-----
You can find a list of members of theLegislature (NC House and NC Senate) at this site:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=Senate
NC Senator Clark Jenkins (Edgecombe) has introduced a bill calling for a Moratorium Imposed on New Landfills. The bill (if made into law) would block the permitting of any new landfills for two years while the legislature studies current rules and decides how to strengthen them. The bill would also appropriate money to do a study of landfills in low-lying areas and other landfill hazards and how to strength current laws governing landfills in the state.
THIS BILL HAS ENOUGH EXCEPTIONS THAT IT WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO MOST CURRENT LEGAL LANDFILLS. See Below.
There is also a provision somewhere in the Current Budget Committee to collect a "tipping fee" for every ton of garbage dumped in North Carolina. I think that these are issues which should be considered separately.
Courts have ruled that garbage is a commodity that states cannot stop from crossing their borders. That has led to the growth of interstate shipments to places with more open space. There are several applications for landfills pending in NC at this time. The largest one is proposed for Camden County. This massive dump could be over 200 feet high and would have the capacity to bury 3 million tons of trash a year for up to 27 years. It is proposed for a 490 to 704 acre site just 3,000 feet from Hwy, 17. This pile of garbage will probably be visible for quite a distance.
http://www.waste-ind.com/camden/articles/BlackBearFactSheet.pdf
The Raleigh N&O reports that Gov. Mike Easley's budget proposal suggests a $2-per-ton statewide fee on solid waste, which would generate about $20 million. Part of the money generated by the fee would be used to help clean up about 700 inactive landfills and some abandoned polluted industrial sites across the state and provide grants to local governments for cleanups.
North Carolina currently charges no fee for trash disposal. Gov. Easley's fee proposal would include all trash disposal in North Carolina, not just imported trash.
An entire copy of the bill (S1575) can be found on the North Carolina Legislature web site.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1575v1.html
Short Title: Moratorium Imposed on New Landfills/Funds.
(Public)
Sponsors: Senators Jenkins; Albertson and Purcell.
Referred to: Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.
S.1575 will block any new approvals until January 2008, providing time for a study commission to examine how to improve siting, bonding, and operations of landfills to prevent the degradation of rural communities and the natural environment. Of course there are some exceptions in the proposal.
. . . "SECTION 2.(b) Exceptions. – The moratorium established by subsection (a) of this section shall not prohibit consideration of an application for or issuance of:
(1) A modification of a permit for an existing permitted landfill.
(2) A permit to expand an existing permitted landfill if the proposed facility boundary will provide no more than five years of disposal capacity.
(3) A modification of a permit to reflect a transfer of ownership of an existing permitted landfill.
(4) A modification of a permit to provide for a substantial change to the waste stream described in a permit in effect as of 1 May 2006 for an existing landfill.
(5) A permit for a sanitary landfill used only to dispose of waste generated by a coal?fired generating unit that is owned or operated by an investor?owned utility subject to the requirements of G.S. 143?215.107D.
(6) A permit for a sanitary landfill determined to be necessary by the Secretary in order to respond to an imminent hazard to public health or a natural disaster . . .
-----
WHAT DO YOU THINK ?? LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE KNOW ! ! !
Should we allow North Carolina to become the dumping ground for garbage from the entire East Coast? North Carolina's location on the coast makes it an easy dumping place for trash traveling on barges and by rail up and down the Atlantic Coast.
Kilowatt Ours:
-----
Announcing the NC Kilowatt Ours Tour with Filmmaker Jeff Barrie July 15-22!
You are invited to a FREE showing of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America, a discussion with filmmaker Jeff Barrie, and an exhibit of energy-related products, services and information on clean energy in NC.
Join the American Lung Association, Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Environmental Defense, NC Conservation Network, NC Council of Churches, NC Solar Center, NC Sustainable Energy Association, NC Warn, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy on this tour across the state!
Kilowatt Ours is a wonderful movie that follows the quest of conservationist and filmmaker Jeff Barrie to document the negative consequences of coal and nuclear energy production while teaching consumers about renewable power and how to increase energy efficiency to save on their utility bills.
NC Tour Dates & Locations:
July 16 Wilmington-FREE
UNC Wilmington Cameron Auditorium
July 17 Fayetteville-FREE
Army’s Airborne & Special Operations Museum
July 18 Raleigh-FREE
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
July 20 Winston-Salem-FREE
Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
July 21 Charlotte -FREE
Myers Park Baptist Church
P!
July 22 Hendersonville-FREE
Blue Ridge Community College
For more information about the film please visit: www.KilowattOurs.org
For information
Together, we can help spread the message that efficiency and conservation are the cleanest and most cost-effective sources of new energy for North Carolina and that vast energy reserve will benefit our economy and environment, and ought to be tapped to its fullest potential.
Announcing the NC Kilowatt Ours Tour with Filmmaker Jeff Barrie July 15-22!
You are invited to a FREE showing of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America, a discussion with filmmaker Jeff Barrie, and an exhibit of energy-related products, services and information on clean energy in NC.
Join the American Lung Association, Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Environmental Defense, NC Conservation Network, NC Council of Churches, NC Solar Center, NC Sustainable Energy Association, NC Warn, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy on this tour across the state!
Kilowatt Ours is a wonderful movie that follows the quest of conservationist and filmmaker Jeff Barrie to document the negative consequences of coal and nuclear energy production while teaching consumers about renewable power and how to increase energy efficiency to save on their utility bills.
NC Tour Dates & Locations:
July 16 Wilmington-FREE
UNC Wilmington Cameron Auditorium
July 17 Fayetteville-FREE
Army’s Airborne & Special Operations Museum
July 18 Raleigh-FREE
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
July 20 Winston-Salem-FREE
Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
July 21 Charlotte -FREE
Myers Park Baptist Church
P!
July 22 Hendersonville-FREE
Blue Ridge Community College
For more information about the film please visit: www.KilowattOurs.org
For information
Together, we can help spread the message that efficiency and conservation are the cleanest and most cost-effective sources of new energy for North Carolina and that vast energy reserve will benefit our economy and environment, and ought to be tapped to its fullest potential.
Another Dangerous Old Dump
-----
Even though there are many restrictions and regulations about landfills, the long-term effects of current landfills is unknown. Please ask the NC Senate and House to pass the moratorium on landfills in NC until more studies can be done.
The Raleigh News & Observer reports that "N.C. State University is spending millions of dollars to clean up a site near the RBC Center and Carter-Finley Stadium where it dumped hazardous waste for 11 years.
Chemical contamination leaking from the old landfill has spread into groundwater and bedrock beneath Wade Avenue. The cleanup will take decades."
The chemical contamination is leaking from a landfill used by NC State's Science and Agricultural Research labs to dispose of waste.The site was used before there were US regulations restricting chemical waste.
The R&O report says that the contamination is spreading slowly toward Richland Creek, a tributary of the Neuse River. The site, which has been on the Superfund list of the nation's most polluted sites since 1986, poses no immediate risk to area residents who don't get drinking water from underground wells.
R&O also reports: ..."Michael Townsend, project manager for the EPA, said the site had been studied for more than 20 years, and the pump and treat method outlined 10 years ago had been delayed for years at the request of the university.
No new waste is being disposed of on the site. Nowadays, the university ships its hazardous and chemical waste -- about 100 tons a year -- to landfills and companies that recycle some of the chemicals, Townsend said."
From Raleigh News & Record report at:
http://www.newsobserver.com/150/story/455387.html
Even though there are many restrictions and regulations about landfills, the long-term effects of current landfills is unknown. Please ask the NC Senate and House to pass the moratorium on landfills in NC until more studies can be done.
The Raleigh News & Observer reports that "N.C. State University is spending millions of dollars to clean up a site near the RBC Center and Carter-Finley Stadium where it dumped hazardous waste for 11 years.
Chemical contamination leaking from the old landfill has spread into groundwater and bedrock beneath Wade Avenue. The cleanup will take decades."
The chemical contamination is leaking from a landfill used by NC State's Science and Agricultural Research labs to dispose of waste.The site was used before there were US regulations restricting chemical waste.
The R&O report says that the contamination is spreading slowly toward Richland Creek, a tributary of the Neuse River. The site, which has been on the Superfund list of the nation's most polluted sites since 1986, poses no immediate risk to area residents who don't get drinking water from underground wells.
R&O also reports: ..."Michael Townsend, project manager for the EPA, said the site had been studied for more than 20 years, and the pump and treat method outlined 10 years ago had been delayed for years at the request of the university.
No new waste is being disposed of on the site. Nowadays, the university ships its hazardous and chemical waste -- about 100 tons a year -- to landfills and companies that recycle some of the chemicals, Townsend said."
From Raleigh News & Record report at:
http://www.newsobserver.com/150/story/455387.html
Resident Answers Questions about Hill Street Median
-----
An article appeared in today's N&R about road work in the Westerwood/Lake Daniel neighborhood.
http://news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060620/NEWSREC0101/606200309
The Inside Scoop Blog asked this question about the new median on Hill Street between Smith and Mendenhall streets.
"Do you live in the neighborhood or drive through? What do you think?"
Posted by Margaret Banks at June 19, 2006 05:20 PM
-----
My Answer follows.
Hey Margaret,
OOPS ! Now you've gotten me started. I love my neighborhood.
I have lived on Fairmont Street for thirty-five years. I don't particularly object to the median on Hill Street. It will probably cause traffic confusion and back-up, but it will make a nice entrance to the area. I think that many medians encourage u-turns, which I think are unsafe for pedestrians, bike riders and automobiles.
The median, which only extends for only one block, will not slow down traffic. It will probably have a bottle-neck effect which could cause significant slowing of emergency vehicles getting to and from Battleground Ave. and Wendover Ave.
I am told that during a heart attack or stroke every minute of delayed treatment raises the death threat by 7 to 10 percent. If this is true, the median could actually be dangerous to heart patients.
The part of Hill Street that is really silly is the median between Battleground and Smith streets. It is just an ugly narrow curb. Signs in the medium get bent and knocked down on a regular basis. I wonder how much has been spent on replacing them.
East Lake, Hill Street and Mendenhall Street have been cut-through streets for as long as most of us have lived in the neighborhood. We like the convenience of being close to downtown and UNCG and Greensboro College. We like being able to walk to classes, the park or to shopping areas. We like being close to emergency medical treatment facilities. We don't want to live in a "gated community". College students have always lived in the neighborhood. The so-called neighborhood association doesn't like college students. They don't want commuters driving through "their neighborhood."
I personally feel that the Greensboro Department of Transportation and the city as a whole could spend money more wisely. The intersection at Westover Terrace and Benjamin Parkway could use turn signals and a better pedestrian crossing area. The traffic circle at Garland and East Lake is confusing since the city painted lane lines. Filling gaps in the sidewalks on East Lake would have been a better use of city funds.
And BTW: Those silly traffic-blocking islands at East Lake and Friendly Ave. are some of the most stupid "improvements" the GDOT has done in years. And that's saying a lot, since they do many unwise things. That barrier was erected because the so-called neighborhood association asked for it. Notarized petitions against the traffic barriers (with many more names than the association had at their meeting about it) were unheeded by the city. What a waste of time and money.
Thanks for the opportunity to sound off.
Diane Davis
905 Fairmont street
Westerwood Resident
Greensboro, NC 27401
Posted by: diane davis at June 20, 2006 10:00 AM
An article appeared in today's N&R about road work in the Westerwood/Lake Daniel neighborhood.
http://news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060620/NEWSREC0101/606200309
The Inside Scoop Blog asked this question about the new median on Hill Street between Smith and Mendenhall streets.
"Do you live in the neighborhood or drive through? What do you think?"
Posted by Margaret Banks at June 19, 2006 05:20 PM
-----
My Answer follows.
Hey Margaret,
OOPS ! Now you've gotten me started. I love my neighborhood.
I have lived on Fairmont Street for thirty-five years. I don't particularly object to the median on Hill Street. It will probably cause traffic confusion and back-up, but it will make a nice entrance to the area. I think that many medians encourage u-turns, which I think are unsafe for pedestrians, bike riders and automobiles.
The median, which only extends for only one block, will not slow down traffic. It will probably have a bottle-neck effect which could cause significant slowing of emergency vehicles getting to and from Battleground Ave. and Wendover Ave.
I am told that during a heart attack or stroke every minute of delayed treatment raises the death threat by 7 to 10 percent. If this is true, the median could actually be dangerous to heart patients.
The part of Hill Street that is really silly is the median between Battleground and Smith streets. It is just an ugly narrow curb. Signs in the medium get bent and knocked down on a regular basis. I wonder how much has been spent on replacing them.
East Lake, Hill Street and Mendenhall Street have been cut-through streets for as long as most of us have lived in the neighborhood. We like the convenience of being close to downtown and UNCG and Greensboro College. We like being able to walk to classes, the park or to shopping areas. We like being close to emergency medical treatment facilities. We don't want to live in a "gated community". College students have always lived in the neighborhood. The so-called neighborhood association doesn't like college students. They don't want commuters driving through "their neighborhood."
I personally feel that the Greensboro Department of Transportation and the city as a whole could spend money more wisely. The intersection at Westover Terrace and Benjamin Parkway could use turn signals and a better pedestrian crossing area. The traffic circle at Garland and East Lake is confusing since the city painted lane lines. Filling gaps in the sidewalks on East Lake would have been a better use of city funds.
And BTW: Those silly traffic-blocking islands at East Lake and Friendly Ave. are some of the most stupid "improvements" the GDOT has done in years. And that's saying a lot, since they do many unwise things. That barrier was erected because the so-called neighborhood association asked for it. Notarized petitions against the traffic barriers (with many more names than the association had at their meeting about it) were unheeded by the city. What a waste of time and money.
Thanks for the opportunity to sound off.
Diane Davis
905 Fairmont street
Westerwood Resident
Greensboro, NC 27401
Posted by: diane davis at June 20, 2006 10:00 AM
About Internet Neutrality
-----
Congress is currently debating this issue through House bill HR5252 ( COPE ACT )which would weaken net neutrality. Another House bill HR5417 would provide necessary Internet freedom protections.
For more information go to SavetheInternet.com. You will find a very diverse coalition of organizations who support internet freedom protection.
What do you think?
Congress is currently debating this issue through House bill HR5252 ( COPE ACT )which would weaken net neutrality. Another House bill HR5417 would provide necessary Internet freedom protections.
For more information go to SavetheInternet.com. You will find a very diverse coalition of organizations who support internet freedom protection.
What do you think?
Don't Ignore Mercury Pollution
-----
Mercury pollution is a serious problem in NC.
Mercury is polluting our air and our water and getting into human food sources. News reports have informed us for years about this hazard to our health. The number one source of mercury emissions is coal-fired power plants. These emissions can be reduced at the source. Other states are taking measures to reduce mercury poison in the environment. NC should pass legislation to drastically reduce this hazard.
The NC Environmental Management Commission is holding a public comment period which started May 30 and will end June 30th, on whether or not NC needs stronger and faster action to reduce its mercury pollution. Time is short. Let the commission know how you feel about Mercury Pollution in NC.
Twenty-two species of fish in North Carolina are unsafe for children and women of childbearing age to eat.
Mercury can cause brain damage and developmental disabilities in unborn children.
Emissions are damaging our forests and wildlife habitats.
The number one source of mercury emissions is coal-fired power plants.
You can make your voice heard. Go to the NC Conservation Network site and Send a Message
http://ncconservationnetwork1.org/campaign/mercury_public_comment/kbe8874q535jwd?
Mercury pollution is a serious problem in NC.
Mercury is polluting our air and our water and getting into human food sources. News reports have informed us for years about this hazard to our health. The number one source of mercury emissions is coal-fired power plants. These emissions can be reduced at the source. Other states are taking measures to reduce mercury poison in the environment. NC should pass legislation to drastically reduce this hazard.
The NC Environmental Management Commission is holding a public comment period which started May 30 and will end June 30th, on whether or not NC needs stronger and faster action to reduce its mercury pollution. Time is short. Let the commission know how you feel about Mercury Pollution in NC.
Twenty-two species of fish in North Carolina are unsafe for children and women of childbearing age to eat.
Mercury can cause brain damage and developmental disabilities in unborn children.
Emissions are damaging our forests and wildlife habitats.
The number one source of mercury emissions is coal-fired power plants.
You can make your voice heard. Go to the NC Conservation Network site and Send a Message
http://ncconservationnetwork1.org/campaign/mercury_public_comment/kbe8874q535jwd?
What is Internet Neutrality?
_____
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=threat
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=threat
More Wild Stories about White Street Landfill
-----
An article in Sunday's News & Record was a bit misleading in its assessment of a proposed law on garbage dumps. I think the article was referring to Senate Bill 1575 which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources. The bill would put a hold on new landfills for 2 years while an environmental study is made. It would also allocate money for the study.
The N&R article failed to mention that there are exceptions written into the bill. These exceptions were posted here on May 22. I can't help wondering if the city employees interviewed about this action have read and understand the contents of and intent of the bill. There are several exceptions for existing landfills.
An entire copy of the bill (S1575) can be found on the North Carolina Legislature web site.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1575v1.html
Short Title: Moratorium Imposed on New Landfills/Funds.
(Public)
Sponsors: Senators Jenkins; Albertson and Purcell.
Referred to: Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.
SOME EXCEPTIONS ARE LISTED HERE.
"SECTION 2.(b) Exceptions. – The moratorium established by subsection (a) of this section shall not prohibit consideration of an application for or issuance of:
(1) A modification of a permit for an existing permitted landfill.
(2) A permit to expand an existing permitted landfill if the proposed facility boundary will provide no more than five years of disposal capacity.
(3) A modification of a permit to reflect a transfer of ownership of an existing permitted landfill.
(4) A modification of a permit to provide for a substantial change to the waste stream described in a permit in effect as of 1 May 2006 for an existing landfill.
(5) A permit for a sanitary landfill used only to dispose of waste generated by a coal-fired generating unit that is owned or operated by an investor-owned utility subject to the requirements of G.S. 143-215.107D.
(6) A permit for a sanitary landfill determined to be necessary by the Secretary in order to respond to an imminent hazard to public health or a natural disaster . . .
Of course private companies who stockpile garbage in rural landfills would be against any restrictions on landfills. This study seems well advised in light of their intent to import trash into North Carolina from other states as well as hauling trash from metropolitan areas and dumping it in rural counties. The length of safety of these dumps is unknown. North Carolina's taxpayers should not have to pay to clean up areas that have been polluted by imported trash.
If North Carolina intends to reduce the cost of trash disposal and maybe even make a profit from it, Waste to Energy Programs should be addressed by the NC General Assembly, as well as by local governments.
What do you think?
An article in Sunday's News & Record was a bit misleading in its assessment of a proposed law on garbage dumps. I think the article was referring to Senate Bill 1575 which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources. The bill would put a hold on new landfills for 2 years while an environmental study is made. It would also allocate money for the study.
The N&R article failed to mention that there are exceptions written into the bill. These exceptions were posted here on May 22. I can't help wondering if the city employees interviewed about this action have read and understand the contents of and intent of the bill. There are several exceptions for existing landfills.
An entire copy of the bill (S1575) can be found on the North Carolina Legislature web site.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1575v1.html
Short Title: Moratorium Imposed on New Landfills/Funds.
(Public)
Sponsors: Senators Jenkins; Albertson and Purcell.
Referred to: Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.
SOME EXCEPTIONS ARE LISTED HERE.
"SECTION 2.(b) Exceptions. – The moratorium established by subsection (a) of this section shall not prohibit consideration of an application for or issuance of:
(1) A modification of a permit for an existing permitted landfill.
(2) A permit to expand an existing permitted landfill if the proposed facility boundary will provide no more than five years of disposal capacity.
(3) A modification of a permit to reflect a transfer of ownership of an existing permitted landfill.
(4) A modification of a permit to provide for a substantial change to the waste stream described in a permit in effect as of 1 May 2006 for an existing landfill.
(5) A permit for a sanitary landfill used only to dispose of waste generated by a coal-fired generating unit that is owned or operated by an investor-owned utility subject to the requirements of G.S. 143-215.107D.
(6) A permit for a sanitary landfill determined to be necessary by the Secretary in order to respond to an imminent hazard to public health or a natural disaster . . .
Of course private companies who stockpile garbage in rural landfills would be against any restrictions on landfills. This study seems well advised in light of their intent to import trash into North Carolina from other states as well as hauling trash from metropolitan areas and dumping it in rural counties. The length of safety of these dumps is unknown. North Carolina's taxpayers should not have to pay to clean up areas that have been polluted by imported trash.
If North Carolina intends to reduce the cost of trash disposal and maybe even make a profit from it, Waste to Energy Programs should be addressed by the NC General Assembly, as well as by local governments.
What do you think?
Is Burr bringing home the medicine??
-----
The Business Journal reports that if Novartis, one of the world's leading healthcare companies builds a plant in NC it will probably need up to 700 employees
to help produce flu vacines.
Sen Burr's Site
The Business Journal reports that if Novartis, one of the world's leading healthcare companies builds a plant in NC it will probably need up to 700 employees
to help produce flu vacines.
Sen Burr's Site
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
