 Campaigns > Local Action > North Carolina
North Carolina
Scotland County
Residents of Scotland County continued their efforts opposing construction of a Megadump in their county by wearing t-shirts that carried their message - “Citizens for a Safe Vibrant Community” - and carrying signs to a recent meeting of the Scotland County commissioners. The protesters were so effective that the chairman refused to allow any of the protesters to address the Board, even though many had signed up in advance to speak. Scotland County of Tomorrow (SCT), working with other local groups and the statewide Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, helped pass a one year state-wide moratorium on construction of new landfills last summer, but the commissioners in this county seem bent on pushing one through. SCT will not rest until Waste Management, the waste hauler and potential landfill operator, “closes up shop in Scotland County.”
Apex
Following an extensive fire at the Environmental Control hazardous waste facility last October, Clean Water Fund of North Carolina is joining others in calling for changes in state and federal regulations to increase reporting requirements for stored chemicals. The massive fire caused thousands to be evacuated and sent dozens of first responders to the hospital because no one knew what chemicals were burning in the blaze. This lack of information also hampered medical treatment efforts. Current laws exempt companies that store hazardous materials for less than 30 days from reporting requirements. Unless community right-to-know laws are strengthened to address this lack of information, the safety of communities where hazardous waste is treated and stored will continue to be in jeopardy.
Fayetteville
Growing groundwater contamination near the local DuPont plant, has sent the Southern Cumberland County Concerned Citizens into action. The Teflon-rated chemical, C8, is manufactured at the plant. SCCCC is investigating local emergency response planning and talking to DuPont shareholders. They have also joined together with the NC C8 Working Group to pressure state environmental regulators to conduct a complete investigation of the concentrations of C8, a “likely carcinogen,” in groundwater around the Fayetteville Works facility and in the blood of DuPont workers. Pam Carter and Tracy Eaton, co-presidents of the citizen’s group, traveled to the DuPont Shareholders Annual Meeting in Delaware to inform them of the company’s growing liability. Their effort was successful in raising shareholder support by 20% for a resolution to shut down C8 production completely.
Scotland County
Scotland County of Tomorrow (SCT) is gearing up to continue a landfill battle they thought they’d already won. Not long after Waste Management, Inc. initially proposed a new bioreactor landfill, county commissioners voted NOT to consider any new landfill proposals in the county. However, Waste Management changed its tactics and a new “local” group emerged supporting the landfill and forcing the commissioners to reconsider their decision, forming a committee charged with assessing landfill proposals. The committee includes members of SCT and the new group that SCT suspects may be tied to Waste Management – an “astro- turf” group. CHEJ is providing organizing assistance to SCT.
Sandyfield
Citizens for a Safe and Vibrant Community, the NC Environmental Justice Network, and the NC Conservation Network teamed up in May to co-host an Anti-Landfill rally. The groups protested five large proposed landfills – “mega-landfills” – that, if approved, would make NC the fourth largest waste-importing state in the nation. They argue that importing out of state trash is no more than a short-term revenue fix for communities that could be devastated by long-term environmental problems caused by the waste.
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