Emerging contaminants and groundwater

A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey of 118 groundwater wells in Minnesota found contaminants of emerging concern in over a third of water samples.  Roughly half of North Carolinians get our water from groundwater, and this study has interesting lessons for our state.

Concerns with S38, Amend Environmental Laws 2014

Every year, as the NC General Assembly approaches the end of session, one or more bills appears that is a grab bag of special interest loopholes and statutory changes requested by agencies.  This year, S734, Regulatory Reform Act of 2014, left the NC Senate loaded with damaging environmental provisions.  The NC House transferred some of them to S38, Amend Environmental Laws 2014, and left others out, and then sent S38 back to the Senate, where it has not yet been brought up for concurrence.  Our factsheet outlining the sections of S38 of greatest concern is here. 

Natural gas extraction and post-closure methane emissions

In North Carolina, much opposition to fracking has reflected concern over air, water, and soil contamination.  At the national level, debate has also swirled around the potential impact of natural gas extraction on the global climate.  A recent PhD dissertation from Princeton University attaches numbers to a concern that has largely escaped notice until now: the potential impact of methane leaking, not from active wells, but from old wells that have ceased production.

Environmental highlights of the NC House budget, S744

Today the NC House takes up its version of S744, the Appropriations Act of 2014, which would make adjustments to the state budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.  In general, the House budget is much better for the environment than the Senate budget, dropping a number of harmful special provisions and adding a handful of smart expansion items.  Our one-page take on the House budget's environmental highlights is here.

In North Carolina, no remedy for long term contamination from fracking?

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court released its opinion in CTS v. Waldburger, a tort claim brought by neighbors of the CTS Superfund site in Asheville.  The court held that the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA, or Superfund) does not preempt North Carolina's 'statute of repose', N.C.G.S. §1-52(16), which requires that a person injured by the actions of another sue within 10 years of the final injury or give up the claim.  As a result, the Court dismissed the case brought by the neighbors, leaving them without a way remedy to recover damages from the company.

Some environmental implications of the NC Senate budget, S744

Roughly one week ago, just after midnight on Saturday, May 31, the NC Senate gave final approval to its version of S744, the 2014 Appropriations bill.  Environmental spending is just a small part of the $21 billion appropriated budget, which represents roughly half of total state annual spending (the rest takes the form of unappropriated spending from receipts and federal grants).  Still, the budget has significant impacts on North Carolina's environment and public health, both through direct expenditures on state programs, and through 'special provisions' that change state laws and policies in non-monetary ways.

We've put together a short factsheet that highlights some of the most environmentally significant provisions; it's available here.  These include new money for coal ash monitoring and cleanup (conditioned on passage of legislation that hasn't yet been unveiled); dubious spending on exploration and marketing of North Carolina's onshore natural gas; a boondoggle project on the Outer Banks; and cuts in transit and multimodal spending.  We'll be watching closely on these and other issues to see whether the House takes a different approach.

What's wrong with SL2014-4, Energy Modernization Act

Yesterday, Governor Pat McCrory signed S786, Energy Modernization Act, into law as Session Law 2014-4.  The bill changed minimally on the House floor last week; we've updated our factsheet on the Act.  It's here.