NCLCV Conservation PAC adds endorsements and the fracking hearings conclude, plus more news, this week in CIB.

Campaign Watch: Conservation PAC Adds Legislative Endorsements

NCLCV Conservation PAC this week announces another half-dozen endorsements in 2014 general election legislative contests, another mix of incumbents and newcomers.

“The General Assembly needs to understand that North Carolinians are concerned about the risk posed to clean water and public health from potential fracking pollution,” said NCLCV Director of Governmental Relations Dan Crawford. “Here are six strong candidates whose victories in November can help to send that message.”

The six additional legislative endorsees follow:

• Joe Langley (Senate District 12)
• Sen. Jeff Jackson (Senate District 37)
• B.J. Jeffers (House District 2)
• Brad Salmon (House District 51)
• Rep. Robert Reives (House District 54)
• Rep. Charles Jeter (House District 92)

You can see NCLCV Conservation PAC’s previously announced endorsements here.

Administrative Watch: Fracking Hearings Conclude With Big Crowd, Record Remains Open

The public hearings on North Carolina’s proposed rules on fracking closed out last week in Cullowhee, where an estimated 600 people turned out on a Friday evening to deliver an overwhelmingly negative message on the prospect for fracking in western North Carolina. Citizen conservation groups including Western NC Alliance and Appalachian Voices organized strong public participation in the hearing.

Hayesville Mayor Harry Baughn delivered a typical message: “Almost everyone in Clay County gets their water from wells so this has become a major concern. No one here wants to trade jobs for clean water. You can’t buy your health.”

The record remains open through September 30 for written public comments on the MEC proposed rules, which can be submitted via email. You can use NCLCV’s convenient link to submit comments.

Executive Watch: No Signature, No Veto, No Action

Nothing could symbolize Governor McCrory’s effective influence level at the NC General Assembly more precisely than what he finally chose to do regarding the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014.

Nothing.

No signature, but no veto either. He’s piqued that the legislature chose to create (and largely appoint) a special Coal Ash Management Commission, instead of leaving the task of carrying out legislative policy in his administration’s hands. He may ask the NC Supreme Court for an “advisory opinion” on the constitutionality of that commission.

Of course, his administration’s performance to date has hardly inspired confidence anywhere beyond the executive suites of Duke Energy. While McCrory focuses on protesting the special commission’s creation, his Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continues to allow dozens of coal ash pits to continue to leak toxins into North Carolina’s ground- and surface waters. Aren’t you missing the real point here, governor?

Unfortunately, so does the Coal Ash Management Act. Concerned citizens may be excused for wondering whether they have a stake in this fight between the legislative and executive branches. It’s no wonder that frustrated citizen conservation groups have instead turned to the courts for action to force timely cleanup of toxic pollution from coal ash.

Education & Resources: Clean Power Plan Forum

The UNC Institute for the Environment and the UNC School of Law will co-host a forum entitled “The Clean Power Plan: What EPA’s Carbon Rules Mean for North Carolina” this week in Chapel Hill. The forum will provide an overview of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations on carbon emissions from power plants, with a special focus on how the rules may impact North Carolina.

The forum will be held this Friday, September 19 from 1 to 4:30pm in room 5042 of Van Hecke-Wettach Hall (UNC School of Law building), 160 Ridge Road, on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. The event will be free and open to the public. More details can be found here.

That’s our report for this week.