DENR Secretary John Skvarla predicts anti-EPA litigation, plus more news, this week in CIB:

Executive Watch: Skvarla Criticizes EPA, Predicts Lawsuit

Is this a contest between McCrory Administration cabinet members to see who can bash environmental protection advocates the hardest? A week ago it was Transportation Secretary Tony Tata against the Southern Environmental Law Center, and now it’s Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary John Skvarla against the EPA.

Skvarla last week told the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, “The EPA is being very difficult to North Carolina. We are on the verge of initiating a lawsuit on air quality standards against the EPA.” Skvarla accused the federal environmental agency of using “arbitrary and capricious standards” in North Carolina and trying to limit the state’s growth. He predicted that a group of southern and midwestern states would fight the EPA and northeastern states. He further said that the EPA would continue to cause problems until Republicans control the U.S. Senate and White House.

Ominously for the future of clean water standards now under accelerated state review, Skvarla’s comments about the EPA came after a local economic development official criticized the EPA for applying strong wetlands protection standards to local development projects.

Administrative Watch: Water Quality Staff Afraid to Do Jobs

At least DENR Secretary Skvarla’s criticisms of the EPA were couched in careful legal terminology, rather than as slaps at “ivory tower elitists” acting full of “their lattes and their contempt” (in the words of Transportation Secretary Tata about environmental group attorneys).

On at least one other front, however, Skvarla is still out front: Losing career professional staff who believe they aren’t being allowed to do their jobs. A former DENR staffperson who resigned her position with the agency wrote in the Raleigh News & Observer last week that the department has been subjected to a “soul-crushing” takeover by politically and ideologically motivated individuals hostile to its environmental protection functions.

Another former DENR official, the widely-respected retired head of its wetlands unit, also recently told the Coastal Review that former colleagues with whom he has stayed in touch are now frustrated and fearful that they are not allowed to do their jobs right and may be fired if they try. A newly-expanded number of key regulatory enforcement positions within DENR have had their civil service protections stripped and serve “at the pleasure of the governor”. Water quality and wetlands protection rules have been specially targeted by the legislature and McCrory administration for fast review and likely weakening.

In the near term, citizen participation in the regulatory review processes is vitally important–if for no other reason than to help lay the groundwork for potential legal challenges to the weakening of once-strong environmental rules. In the longer term, however, all concerned (both those for and against strong environmental rules) agree that the fate of these efforts will depend on who wins upcoming rounds of legislative and executive elections.

North of the Border: Mining Company Suspends Virginia Uranium Push

Virginia Uranium Inc. has announced that it is suspending its campaign to open up uranium deposits in southern Virginia to mining operations. The company said in financial filings this month that the victory of Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe in last month’s elections presented another major roadblock to its efforts. McAuliffe said during his campaign (and confirmed after his election) that he would oppose lifting Virginia’s decades-long ban on uranium mining.

Virginia Uranium had already been pushing without success for legislation lifting the ban, but opponents were successful in the session just finished in blocking such a bill from getting out of committee. The mining company has expended “hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past several years in political contributions, lobbying and to fly delegations of Virginia lawmakers to France and Canada to tour uranium mining and processing facilities.” But even with the backing of pro-nuclear Gov. Bob McDonnell, the company’s pressures “fell woefully short” due to concerns about public health and potential widespread contamination of water resources. (Associated Press, 12/14/13.)

This is another reminder that elections have real-world consequences.

Judicial Watch: Coyote Hunting Endangers Red Wolves

Environmental groups last week asked a federal judge to block hunting for coyotes in counties where red wolves roam in northeastern NC, because the recently legalized hunts have resulted in the shooting deaths of six red wolves out of wild population of only about a hundred. Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and its client groups asked for an injunction against the hunting until their lawsuit against the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission over the hunts is heard and decided. (Associated Press, 12/17/13.)

SELC and other wildlife advocates say that the coyote hunting in that area puts the endangered wolves at special risk because of the similarity in appearance of the species, and the fact that the hunting can take place at night. For more details on the problem, see here.

Conservationists: Bill Knox

Long-time conservation advocate Bill Knox passed away in Greensboro earlier this month. Dr. William Knox was a retired professor and former chair of the sociology department at UNC-Greensboro. A committed friend of NCLCV and its predecessor organization, Conservation Council of NC, Knox also received special awards from the Audubon Society and Wilderness Society. Former Greensboro Mayor Carolyn Allen called Knox a “civic hero” who was “a passionate defender of individual liberty and God’s green earth.” CIB remembers and honors Bill Knox, who made a positive difference for North Carolina’s environment and people.

Education & Resources: NCLCV Seeking Online Coordinator

NCLCV is seeking to hire an Online Engagement Coordinator. The position requires “a proven online organizer” to “focus on cultivating and engaging our activist network.” The full-time Raleigh-based position requires a college degree and 3-5 years experience in “online organizing, email advocacy, or new media” among other requirements. For the complete description of position responsibilities and requirements, send an inquiry to jobs@nclcv.org with “Online Engagement Coordinator” in the subject line. (No phone calls, please.) Completed applications with cover letter, resume, and online writing samples will be needed by January 15.

That’s our report for this week.