Wendell News Outlet

  

  

Proud to be a member of the Foundation?   Get your NRF gear and presentshere.

  www.neuseriver.org

In the NC General Assembly, financial issues are on everyone's mind...but for those of us who love our rivers and streams, 2011 could be called the year of the "War on Water" because of bills that attack long-standing protections and put public health at risk.

We need your voice in the chorus asking for a safe, healthy future for the Neuse.  Will you take a few minutes to help us care for our creeks, streams, lakes, and coasts by sharing your voice to protect our waters?

Even if you are pressed for time you can make your voice heard in the general assembly by sending an email on one, or even two, of the important topics below.  Telling our legislators that you care about water can be as easy as a few clicks that send the message: "We are here and we care about safe and healthy water for us and our families".

Tips for making your voice heard: 

SB232/HB116 – Delineate Coastal Wetlands Riparian Buffers
If this bill passes, people and businesses that impact land near our public waters will be able to usecoastal wetlands and marshlands as buffers rather than being required to provide buffers as they are currently required to do.  This bill effectively removes buffer protections for sensitive coastal areas in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River basins and puts the health of our public waters and commercial fisheries at serious risk by increasing the likelihood of contamination by bacteria, PCBs, and other dangerous chemicals.

SB48/HB45– Accelerate Clean Up of Industrial Properties
This bill allows the use of risk-based remediation to "accelerate" the cleanup of contaminated industrial sites by letting polluters cleanup less than they are currently required to if it is decided there is a reasonable balance between the money saved and the threat to public/environmental health. 

SB181– No LUST Cleanup Under Certain Circumstances
If this bill passes no cleanup will be required if a underground petroleum storage tank leaks or breaks if a public water system is available to those affected and no surface waters are located within 1,000 ft of the tank. Petroleum tanks typically hold aviation fuel, gasoline, diesel, used engine oil, solvents or heating oil, that can contain toxic chemicals like benzene which can be easily released from the soil into the air and may leach to groundwater. 

HB119 - Amend Environmental Laws 2011
Directs DENR and the EMC to incorporate stormwater capture, reuse, and management into stormwater runoff rules and programs and introduces “Weather based irrigation controls” that will help prevent precious potable water from being wasted through inappropriate irrigation timing.