In Our Backyard Podcast

This episode I bring back Lisa Sorg after 2 years on the podcast, she is an Environmental Reporter for N.C. Policy Watch. She has been a journalist for 22 years covering environmental issues, including social justice, pollution, climate change and energy policy. To listen to your previous episode is episode 8, called Inside the Mind of An Environmental Reporter.

With Lisa we talk about what’s been going in terms of her environmental reporting in the last 2 years, her recent articles about Hurricane Matthew victims, microplastics, her motivation to write these articles, and what she’s looking forward to in the future.

Contact and connect with Lisa: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com or lisa@ncpolicywatch.com or https://twitter.com/lisasorg

Read Lisa’s stories here: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/author/lisa-sorg/

Jennifer Wilson is a member of CHASE which is a chapter of BREDL. CHASE stands for Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment based in Georgia.

Metro Green is a recycling plant that is placed in a residential area of StoneCrest, GA. The community there has been fighting this facility for the past 2 years over their health and the pollutants it gives off and the environment.

Jennifer lives directly across from this plant and with her we discuss the health effects, Metro Green’s motive, their current litigation case against them, and getting involved in your own community.

Jennifer cannot answer questions at the moment due to the litigation case, but if you could like to contatc and connect with Renne Cail who is the organizer of CHASE, her contact information will be in the show notes below.

Contact and connect with Renee: disoni7@yahoo.com

Metro Green articles:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10225085279265762&id=1431983484&ref=m_notif&notif_t=story_reshare

https://cwatlanta.cbslocal.com/video/4681339-dekalb-county-recycling-center-delayed/

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2020/08/26/dekalb-residents-fight-metro-green-recycling-center/

https://www.wabe.org/judge-blocks-work-at-industrial-facility-in-dekalb-opposed-by-community-advocates/

https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/in-south-dekalb-black-neighborhoods-fight-environmental-racism/SCJUPP3HQVAJ3B5VNYJ3GEJ6FA/

Elise Traywick is a Masters student of Public Administration at UNC Chapel Hill. She’s been doing research with BREDL on all about 1,4 Dioxane in North Carolina landfills.

1,4-Dioxane is used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethane and trichloroethylene. 1 It can also be an unintended contaminant of chemical ingredients used in consumer products including bubble bath, shampoo, laundry detergent, soap, skin cleanser, adhesives, and antifreeze. Causing this chemical is in NC landfills and has been getting into their groundwater. In water, it dissolves completely, even at high concentrations and does not evaporate readily. These properties make 1,4-dioxane difficult to remove from water.

With Elise we talk about how 1,4 dioxane is ending up in landfills, where it's going, what products it's in, testing methods and research, and how we can prevent this from occurring.

Contact and connect with Elise: ctraywick@unc.edu

1,4 articles: https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/14-Dioxane-Another-forever-chemical/98/i43

https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/14-dioxane-cosmetics-manufacturing-byproduct

Darya Minovi, MPH, is a CPR Policy Analyst. She is a public health advocate passionate about environmental justice and the use of research to inform policies that protect human health and safeguard the environment.

This is our last episode on the topic of the Winston-Salem Fertilizer plant fire. This one is centered around the public and environmental health surrounding it.

With Darya we talk about the air quality, what chemicals were released and how long they stay in the air, what can be done now, and overall public health concerns today.

Contact and connect with Darya: DMinovi@progressivereform.org  

CRP report:http://progressivereform.org/our-work/energy-environment/preventing-double-disasters/

Other news: https://ncpolicywatch.com/2022/02/08/winston-salem-fertilizer-fire-reveals-regulatory-loopholes-spurs-hard-questions-about-building-and-workplace-safety/

https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/disaster-at-winston-salem-fertilizer-plant-is-unacceptable-unnecessary-and-entirely-preventable?fbclid=IwAR1PIVGOJTNVCSPbDSc5qVjM-Vgwh7y6Q97WjDsAqtbfQ2fb8RceomIYVus

Sidney A. Shapiro is the Frank U. Fletcher Chair in Law at  Wake Forest University and Vice-President at the Center for Progressive Reform. We talk further about the Winston-Salem fertilizer plant disaster that happened earlier this year. You can listen to the past two episodes to get further details on the disaster.

With Sidney we talk about his personal experience with the evacuation, the demographic that lived directly by it, EPA’s role in this, reform that should be put into place, and how lucky they were that this plant didn’t explode.

Contact and connect with Sidney: https://law.wfu.edu/faculty/profile/shapirsa/

http://progressivereform.net/ShapiroSidneyBio.cfm

CRP report:http://progressivereform.org/our-work/energy-environment/preventing-double-disasters/

Other news: https://ncpolicywatch.com/2022/02/08/winston-salem-fertilizer-fire-reveals-regulatory-loopholes-spurs-hard-questions-about-building-and-workplace-safety/

Other news: https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/disaster-at-winston-salem-fertilizer-plant-is-unacceptable-unnecessary-and-entirely-preventable?fbclid=IwAR1PIVGOJTNVCSPbDSc5qVjM-Vgwh7y6Q97WjDsAqtbfQ2fb8RceomIYVus

In our last episode with David Flores we spoke all about the disaster in Winston-Salem NC that just occured where nearly 600 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire at the Weaver fertilizer plant on Jan. 31 and burned for four days. The risk of explosion was so great that Winston-Salem officials asked people to evacuate within a mile radius, temporarily displacing 6,000 residents. Now with Deena Tumeh who is an Associate Attorney at Earthjustice, we speak about the reform that she and others have been working on for hazardous chemicals like this.

With Deena we talk about the cases and reform she is working on, why industries are pushing back these laws, if it was preventable, and how we can keep EPA and other federal lawmakers accountable.

Contact and connect with Deena: dtumeh@earthjustice.org

Winston Salem disaster: https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/disaster-at-winston-salem-fertilizer-plant-is-unacceptable-unnecessary-and-entirely-preventable?fbclid=IwAR1PIVGOJTNVCSPbDSc5qVjM-Vgwh7y6Q97WjDsAqtbfQ2fb8RceomIYVus

David Flores, J.D., is a CPR Senior Policy Analyst. He joined CPR in 2016 to work on climate adaptation policy and advocacy.

We talk specifically about the disaster in Winston-Salem NC that just occurred where nearly 600 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire at the Weaver fertilizer plant on Jan. 31 and burned for four days. The risk of explosion was so great that Winston-Salem officials asked people to evacuate within a mile radius, temporarily displacing 6,000 residents. The Center for Progressive Reform came out with an article that emphasized the need to prevent double disasters, which implies that hazardous chemical releases by industrial facilities are worsened by inadequate action in the face of conditions of climate change and natural disasters. As the global climate crisis intensifies, coastal and inland communities are increasingly at risk of natural disasters.”

With David, we talk about the incident, what preventable measurements could have taken place, who was affected, EPA’s risk management preventions, and what reform can be done on a national level.

Contact and connect with David: dflores@progressivereform.org 

CRP report:http://progressivereform.org/our-work/energy-environment/preventing-double-disasters/

Other news: https://ncpolicywatch.com/2022/02/08/winston-salem-fertilizer-fire-reveals-regulatory-loopholes-spurs-hard-questions-about-building-and-workplace-safety/

Therese Vick is the NC Sustainable Economic Development Coordinator/ Community Organizer for us here at BREDL. Community groups, especially our BREDL chapters, often use air monitoring as a tool for organizing. They are often concerned about the quality of the air they breathe and how it may affect their health or the health of family and friends. With smaller, low-cost sensors available, groups have become increasingly engaged in monitoring the air quality in their neighborhoods to understand and reduce potential health risks.

To define it, air monitoring is the systematic, long-term assessment of pollutant levels by measuring the quantity and types of certain pollutants in the surrounding, outdoor air. There are many reasons to do air monitoring such as:

• assess the extent of pollution;
• provide air pollution data to the general public in a timely manner;
• support implementation of air quality goals or standards;
• evaluate the effectiveness of emissions control strategies;
• provide information on air quality trends;
• provide data for the evaluation of air quality models; and
• support research (e.g., long-term studies of the health effects of air pollution).

With Therese we discuss the validity of community air monitoring, the process for a good air monitoring set up, what people can do with this information after, and how to keep these industries accountable for polluting our air.

Contact and connect with Therese: therese.vick@gmail.com

Air Monitoring resources: https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-management-process/managing-air-quality-ambient-air-monitoring https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data

Sign up for local air notices: ​​https://www.airnow.gov/

Leanna Powell is the Director of Development and Communications at Blue Water Baltimore whose mission is to restore the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams and Harbor to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy and thriving communities.

For too long, Baltimore’s waterways have been plagued by trash, toxins, sewage, and polluted stormwater. These problems do more than harm our environment; they threaten the health and well-being of our residents, communities, and local businesses. They work to change this.

With Leanna we talk about water quality issues Baltimore is facing, toxic pollution, historical aspects of the city that have led to water issues, educating and listening to citizens, and how to get involved with water issues near you.

Contact and connect with Leanna: lpowell@bluewaterbaltimore.org

Blue Water Baltimore: https://bluewaterbaltimore.org/

Find a local water keeper: https://waterkeeper.org/

Geeta Kapur is a civil rights attorney and an activist; she is an alumna of UNC-Chapel Hill and its law school. She is also the author of the book about UNC, "To Drink from the Well: The Struggle for Racial Equality at the Nation's Oldest Public University."

With Geeta we talk about her experience attending UNC for undergrad and law school, the racial history of UNC, environmental racism, and what motivated her to write this book.

Contact and connect with Geeta: https://twitter.com/geetankapur or gkapuratty@aol.com

Geeta’s book:https://www.blairpub.com/shop/to-drink-from-the-well

UNC’s racial history: https://www.facingsouth.org/2021/07/voices-uncs-troubled-racial-past-and-present

https://www.facingsouth.org/2021/09/voices-uncs-horrifying-history-environmental-racism https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/09/university-drink-from-the-well-feature

Lyndsey Gilpin is the founder + executive editor of Southerly. Southerly is a nonprofit that serves communities in the South who face environmental injustice and are most at risk of the effects of climate change. They do this by equipping them with the journalism, resources, and information they need to make their communities healthier and safer, to hold power to account, and to have agency over their future.

With Lyndsey we talk about their approach to equipping people with journalism, how they reach people in rural places, how they create their well-rounded stories, and some of the main environmental concerns they write about.

Contact and connect with Lyndsey: lgilpin@southerlymag.org 

Southerly: https://southerlymag.org/

This is the final episode to finish out the Real Cost of Nuclear season! And it’s all about how nuclear can’t solve the climate crisis. I talk with Don Safer, who is with the Tennessee Environmental Council and does local work with the Sierra Club. There are a lot of claims that nuclear can solve or be a bridge to the climate crisis - but in this episode we question if that is just the industry propaganda that is blinding us to actual solutions?

With Don, we talk about how nuclear does produce Co2, factors that make it unsustainable, the factor of time in the climate crisis, and how clean energy solutions can fix many of our environmental problems.

Contact and connect with Don: dsafer@comcast.net  

This is another re-release episode where I talk with Ralph Hutchinson who is the coordinator of The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance. OREPA is committed to nonviolence and believes in using every tool in the toolbox. Their main focus is stopping nuclear weapons production at the Y12 Nuclear Weapons Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and protecting the environment threatened by legacy and ongoing activities at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Reservation. We discuss background on Y12 and Oak Ridge, the dangers of nuclear weapons productions, the environmental impacts of the nuclear weapon chain, how we are in a new nuclear arms race, getting to the base of why these nuclear weapons are being invested in and made, and then what you can do to get involved.

Contact and connect with Ralph:  orep@earthlink.net or https://orepa.org/

Register or learn more about Stop The New Nuclear Arms Race event: https://orepa.org/stop-the-new-nuclear-arms-race-registration-open/

President Trump’s 2020 Budget for Uranium Processing Facilities: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/budget

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/us/politics/trump-budget-nuclear-missiles.html

Universities who are investing or engaging in nuclear weapons: https://www.icanw.org/us_universities_are_complicit_in_nuclear_weapons_production_new_ican_report_reveals

Articles on the dangers of Nuclear Weapons: https://futureoflife.org/background/the-risk-of-nuclear-weapons/?cn-reloaded=1

https://www.nap.edu/read/11282/chapter/8#77

Ian Zabarte is the Principle Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians and works with the Native Community Action Council. He lives in Las Vegas, NV and has worked on nuclear issues for 30+ years.

We specifically talk about Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository, which is a proposed deep geological repository storage facility within Yucca Mountain to store spent nuclear fuel, in other terms, nuclear waste and other high-level radioactive waste. The project was approved in 2002 by the 107th United States Congress, but federal funding for the site ended in 2011. With no federal funding it’s up to the NRC and DOE but there has not been a final decision on the repository license application. The project has encountered many difficulties and was highly contested by the Western Shoshone peoples and non-local public. As of 2019 the status of the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain remains uncertain.

We discuss the significant impacts Yucca Mountain has for the Shoshone people, the significance of land and water for Indiginious people, what a nuclear waste repository is, the relationship between tribal governments and the federal government, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), and then what you can do to take action.

Contact and connect with Ian: mrizabarte@gmail.com

Learn more about the Native Community Action Council: http://www.nativecommunityactioncouncil.org/index.html

Treaty of Ruby Valley: https://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/shoshone/ruby_valley.html

Yucca Mountain Resources: https://www.yuccamountain.org/ http://www.nativecommunityactioncouncil.org/Defend-Yucca-Mountain.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/03/yucca-mountain-congress-works-revive-dormant-nuclear-waste-dump/664153002/

https://www.nirs.org/radioactive-waste/hlw/

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act: https://www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/947/text

HOLTEC: https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/06/07/halting-holtec-a-challenge-for-nuclear-safety-advocates/

Dave Kraft is the Executive Director and co-founder of Nuclear Energy Information Service or NEIS for short. Dave was responsible for creating the “Know Nukes!” series of videos on nuclear topics in cooperation with CAN-TV Chicago; and is a co-founder of the Radiation Monitoring Project, designed to provide training and field monitors to communities contaminated by radioactive substances.

With Dave we talk about the impacts nuclear has from resources, economics, land use, the climate, and the short and long term effects.

Contact and connect with Dave: ​​dave neis@neis.org

NEIS: https://neis.org/

Solar Panels Plus Farming? Agrivoltaics Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgZBlD-TCFE&list=TLPQMDYxMDIwMjHSbLRM4kKjrA&index=5

Petuuche GIlbert tells his personal experience of living in the Grants Mining District in New Mexico and has been working on nuclear and mining issues for 30+ years. Petuuche is also an environmental and human rights activist as well as a member of the Multicultural Alliance for Safe Environment and President of the Indigenous World Association, a United Nations NGO.

New Mexico has no nuclear power plants, but it does have the nation's second-largest uranium resource equal to nearly one-third of U.S. known uranium reserves. We talk about uranium mining which is the first part of the nuclear fuel chain and is the  process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. Uranium from this type of mining is used almost entirely as fuel for nuclear power plants.

The Grants Mining District, where Petuuche lives, was the primary focus of uranium extraction and production activities in New Mexico from the 1950s until the late 1990s. Nuclear is responsible for infusing about $3 billion a year into New Mexico’s economy, Los Alamos National Laboratory is being held up by lab officials, politicians and others as an example of the kind of high-tech economic drivers.

With Petuuche we talk about the Grants Mining District, nuclear activity and funding in New Mexico, Consolidated Interim Storage (CIS), his work in the area, and what his hope for the future is. 

Contact and connect with Petuuche: petuuche@aol.com or petuuche@gmail.com

Grants Mining District: https://www.epa.gov/grants-mining-district

https://www.env.nm.gov/gwqb/grants-mining-district/

Trinity Nuclear Testing: https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/trinity-test-1945

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/trinity-test

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP): https://www.wipp.energy.gov/

New Mexico’s income from nuclear: https://apnews.com/b39a6e39d88441099ed2f99017f9fa4a

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/11/709600915/new-mexico-is-divided-over-the-perfect-site-to-store-nation-s-nuclear-waste

https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/region-state/newmexico.html

https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=NM

This week I spoke with Maggie and Arnie Gundersen. Maggie is the president of Fairewinds Energy Education and Arnie is a nuclear engineer and expert witness he is also the chief engineer for Fairewinds Associates, Inc, paralegal services and expert testimony firm. They both previously worked in the nuclear industry when they both came to the conclusion that this is not the future they want to support or work in and began their research and formation of Fairewinds to inform and educate people around the world, legislative officials, and members of the press concerning the scientific and economic issues relating to the production of electricity and the sources of energy used to create power.

With both Maggie and Arnie we talk about the history of nuclear, what resources we need for it, fission vs. fusion, their peer-reviewed publications, and what they're currently working on. To contact and connect with them and Fairewinds Energy Education will be in the show notes below.

Thank you so much to both Maggie and Arnie for speaking with me. To read their peer-reviewed publications and learn more about their organizations Fairewinds will be in the show notes below. And tune in next week where we will talk about how the uranium is mined to get the end product of nuclear. Thanks everyone and have a good week!

Contact and connect with Maggie and Arnie Gundersen: fairewinds@gmail.com

Fairewinds: https://www.fairewinds.org/

Peer Reviewed Papers: https://www.fairewinds.org/fairewinds-peer-reviewed-papers

Hi everyone and welcome back to the In Our Backyard Podcast and if you’re new, welcome. In the Real Cost of Nuclear season, I thought I would start things out with a re-release episode with Kevin Kamps who is with Beyond Nuclear. He specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; Congress watch; climate change; and federal subsidies.

We talk about all things nuclear: breaking down nuclear jargon and terms, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), how likely it is that another accident will happen, and how Kevin got into anti-nuclear himself.

To contact and connect with Kevin will be in the show notes below and I hope you enjoy the episode.

Thanks Kevin for speaking with me, if you have any suggestions for future episodes contact BREDL through their website bredl.org or on one of our social media platforms in the show notes. Thanks for tuning in and come back next week for another episode of the Real Cost of Nuclear season.

Contact and connect with Kevin: kevin@beyondnuclear.org

Beyond Nuclear: http://www.beyondnuclear.org

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research: https://ieer.org/

Insurmountable Risks Book: https://www.amazon.com/Insurmountable-Risks-Dangers-Nuclear-Climate/dp/1571431624

Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities (CISF): https://www.nirs.org/campaigns/dont-waste-america/cis/ https://www.aps.org/policy/reports/popa-reports/consolidated.cfm

Decommissioning: https://www.nei.org/resources/fact-sheets/decommissioning-nuclear-power-plants

Deep Isolation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/01/31/can-we-drill-a-hole-deep-enough-for-our-nuclear-waste/#960b74a68a7b

BREDL: https://www.bredl.org/index.htm 

Hi everyone, it’s your host Jenn Galler and I’m back with another season of the In Our Backyard Podcast and it’s all about Nuclear Energy. We’ve heard pros and cons of what nuclear power can entail, and in this season I’ll be breaking down what the real costs of nuclear power are. From the mining of uranium, transportation of the fuel, the use of it, where the waste will go, and whether it’s a long term energy solution. I’ll also be breaking down nuclear jargon along the way, discuss if it’s an essential energy source, and the safety of it. I’ll be talking with nuclear experts, learning facts, propaganda, and what’s happening with the nuclear industry today. I’m excited to dive into this topic with you all, so let’s get started!

Jacqueline Fahrenholz is a rising second year master’s student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. She is pursuing a dual master’s degree in Environmental Management focusing in Ecosystem Science and Conservation along with a master’s degree in Forestry. Jackie worked with BREDL as a GIS Specialist this past summer, helping the organization get familiarized with the program as well as identifying tools necessary for completing tasks that have already been Identified. Some of the projects the team has focused on, include but is not limited to AERMOD modeling and the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension.

With Jackie we break down what GIS is, how environmental groups can use it, what got her interested in the environmental field, and what her plans for the future are.

Contact and connect with Jackie: jacqueline.fahrenholz@duke.edu 

Leija Helling is a Community Organizing Associate with Center for Health Environment and Justice (CHEJ). The campaign that she is working on is called Make Polluters Pay which is making polluting corporations pay for their contamination.

To give some background, there are currently 1,388 toxic waste sites in the United States that are so dangerous they have been designated “Superfund” sites by the federal government. But there’s no money left to clean up the contamination. Originally, big polluting companies paid into a fund that was used to clean up their messes. But in 1995, Congress let the Polluters Pay Tax expire. By 2003, our Superfund was broke. Ever since, cleanup efforts have slowed to a crawl while all of us as taxpayers are left holding the bag.

Today, some of the biggest polluting corporations are making billions of dollars per year in profits and paying zero dollars in taxes. As climate change causes more flooding, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, increasing the risk of widespread toxic exposure from these sites, there is no time to waste.

With Lejiah we talk about what got her into organizing work, the Make Polluters Pay campaign, why young people should / are involved in the climate movement, and imaging a better future.

Contact and connect with Leijah: leijahelling@gmail.com

Make Pollutors Pay: http://chej.org/makepolluterspay/

This week we will be diverting from the Youth in the Climate Season to bring you a bonus episode about the No Coal UNC rally happening today at UNC Chapel Hill. Today at 11, there will be a Kick off rally where people will be using their voices and presences to demand justice for the dirty coal that UNC is continuing to burn. You can listen to episodes 3 on the Road to Renewable Season with Jovita Lee and 1 on this season with Amelia Covington if you want to hear more on the UNC coal plant. On this episode is Chris Carlton and Liz Evans who are apart of a group called Raging Grannies which are grannies who are using creative actions to speak out for social issues.

CLEAN ENERGY NOW!

(Tune: “Bella Ciao” Song of the Italian Resistance WWll)  New lyrics by Chris Carlson for the Raging Grannies

We need to wake up! We need to wise up!

We need to open our eyes

And do it NOW! NOW! NOW!

We need to stop this toxic coal plant

And we need to stop it now!

They’ve been mining, they’ve been burning,  They’ve been dumping their coal ash

For a hundred years!

Hardest hit/ are poor communities,

And that’s got to stop right now!

Coal is burning. It’s quite concerning.

We’ve got to solve it, get involved

And do it NOW! NOW! NOW!

DAQ! we’re telling you:

Restore the Heat Input Limit, Now!

We’re on a campus/ that’s in a crisis

They’re full of shit! Useless permit!

Change it NOW! NOW! NOW!

We need the proof/ that you’re complying

With the Clean Air Act right now!!

No point in waiting/ or hesitating;

We must get wise to their lies

If we’re to stay alive!

We need to build/ a Clean New Future,

And we’re gonna start right Now!!

Contact with Chris and Liz: cmneuok@gmail.com and emevans500@aol.com  

This episode is a re-release from a few months ago where I talk with Nick Trombetta who is a part of the Sunrise Movement which is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. They’re building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.

With Nick we discuss the Sunrise Movement's mission, why it is important for youth to be involved in the climate movement, the Green New Deal, and actions they’re taking locally.

In the episode there are talks about politicians, but BREDL does not endorse any politician or political party. Thanks for listening and if you like it, please share with a friend!

Contact and connect with Nick: nicktrombetta1373@gmail.com

Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/?ms=SunriseMovement-WeAreTheClimateRevolution

How to get involved: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/take-action/?ms=HowtoTakeActionwithSunrise

Madeline Parker is from NC Warn. Madeline is a Youth Climate Justice Organizer, which is an arm of the organization that was created in 2017. Their intention is to further develop and deepen NC WARN’s commitment to actively involving youth in the fight for climate justice and against the climate crisis, working both in school settings and out in the general community.

We are all impacted by the climate crisis, but youth are the ones most impacted and all too often are not invited to the conversation or able to amplify their voices and engage in the movement.

With Madeline, we discuss her work, working with Youth who are already engaged in the Climate Movement, why there has been an uprising in youth speaking out, challenging the status quo, how youth are keeping engaged in COVID and more. Thank you for listening and if you enjoy it please share with a friend!

Contact and connect with Madeline: madeline@ncwarn.org

NC Warn: https://www.ncwarn.org/our-work/youth-climate-justice-organizing/

This week I’m bringing you a very special episode because it is, Lou Zeller, our Executive Director at Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League last week with us as he retires. This month is also marking his 35-year career with BREDL including nine years as executive director. BREDL’s founding principles of earth stewardship, environmental democracy, social justice and community empowerment is the embodiment and legacy that Lou has and will still carry on.  Lou, the communities, people, organization, and the environment are forever grateful for your time and contributions you’ve made, you will be greatly missed! In the episode we celebrate and reminisce about his time at the organization and talk about his plans for the future and retirement.

We also discuss:

• His beginnings in the organization and how he got involved
• How he has seen the organization change and grow through the years
• Some of the successful or creative campaigns that stood out to him
• The most memorable moments for him personally
• His hope going forward leaving BREDL
• His plans for the future and retirement

Contact and connect with Lou: bredl@skybest.com

Contribute to Lou’s Kudos board: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/jnD54X3S

Keep up to date with BREDL: https://www.bredl.org/index.htm

Margot Franchini is a high school senior from Chapel Hill in North Carolina, Margot is apart of Earth Uprising, a youth led organization who describe themselves as “team of young people who want to save the planet.” They have strong values and principles, some of which are to “listen, believe and act on science and scientific facts,” use “ non-violent” words and actions, and be inclusive of all ethnicities, genders, cultures, and backgrounds. Margot’s organization, Earth Uprising knows that they are the generation that will have to deal with the consequences of our neglect of climate change so they are rising up to take action. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Contact and connect with Margot: mhfrancini@gmail.com

Earth Uprising:  info@earthuprising.org

Last week, we wrapped up our Road to Renewables season and wow what amazing variety of people we got to speak with. We are now following the season up with our new topic, Youth in the Climate Movement. We will be talking to all sorts of experts and people on the ground about the action being made amongst the young millennial and generation Z. We are kicking off the season by chatting with Amelia Covington from Climate Action. Amelia’s organization uses activism in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte, to advocate for sound environmental policies both locally and within the wider nation. Amelia will discuss their overarching goal to progress North Carolina towards a clean energy future, and how she got involved in the climate movement and activism herself. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy!

Contact and connect with Amelia: acovingtonlcv@gmail.com

Climate Action NC: https://www.facebook.com/climateactionnc/, https://twitter.com/climateactionnc?lang=en

Hi everyone, it’s your host, Jenn Galler, and I am back for a new season and it’s all about Youth in the Climate Movement. We will be investigating what millennials and generation Z are doing to contribute to and really lead the climate movement forward. Within the season, we hear from an array of youth who are refusing to sit passively by and are stepping up to take action to protect the future of our planet. Young people’s unprecedented initiative around the world shows the massive power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable and make climate change an urgent priority. Whether through education, community organizing, science, or technology, young people are scaling up their efforts and using their skills to accelerate climate action. I’m excited to dive into this topic with you all so let’s get started!

In this episode, Perrin will discuss the UNC coal plant and why we should be more alarmed about the lack of action being taken to remove it or at least reduce the emissions. Coal plants are not just an issue contributing to the climate crisis but also to public health and endangered species. And Perrin works as an attorney on these matters in North Carolina.  Coal contains trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements. This means some coal plants emit more radiation than a nuclear power plant and can cause acid rain, affecting our plants and wildlife. Perrin also goes into depth about the personal health complications he had from growing up near a coal power plant. With its abundance and inexpensive tendencies, coal has been one of the United States' leading energy resources. However, the air pollution and water pollution alone have counteracted these benefits, not to mention the inhabitants, waste, mining destruction, and significant contribution to greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. It's up to us to put pressure on these coal plants, legislators, and energy companies to put a stop to coal power.

Contact and connect with Perrin: PdeJong@biologicaldiversity.org

Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/

Follow BREDL’s Instagram: BREDL_HQ

Today we are speaking with Dr Tim Johnson. A common argument against renewable energy is the perceived unreliable nature of it, the sun isn’t always shining and the wind isn’t always blowing. Luckily, we have those issues being solved by people like Dr Johnson. He works in the more logistical side of renewables, conducting research on systems planning and management on resources. He also spends his time as a professor at Duke University, teaching in the Nicholas graduate school about energy system planning and management. We unpack the intersection between energy system design’s environmental quality and human health, the economic influences on our journey to renewables, and the present and future plans for energy storage. His notable publications include investigations on solar power, the economics within sustainability bio energy and its relationship with agriculture, and the assessment of the environmental effects from gasoline and ethanol production.

Contact and connect with Dr. Johnson: https://nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/johnson-0

Contact BREDL on Instagram: BREDL_HQ

This week, we are bringing back one of our previous podcast that follows the theme of our season, Road to Renewables. We chatted with Brianna Kinsley who has a degree in sustainable development and works for Appalachian Voices assisting the people of East Tennessee to address the energy efficiency needs. This podcast looks further into how Appalachian Voices is assisting in energy democracy, the local people having control of how their electricity is produced and distributed to ensure everyone has access to affordable and clean power. With the help of solar, wind and hydro power, Appalachian Voices is helping citizens decrease their carbon footprint by allowing them to choose clean, renewable energy. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Contact and connect with Briana: brianna@appvoices.org   

Appalachian Voices: https://appvoices.org/energydemocracy/tennessee/

Micheal Walton, Executive Director and Gabrielle Chevalier, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach with Green | Spaces. Green | Spaces a nonprofit working toward regional sustainability by progressing the way we live, work, and build in Chattanooga and the surrounding region. They have a focus on making awareness and application of sustainable practice accessible to the wider community.

In recent years, “sustainability” has been a focus for Chattanooga's economy. The city has received three national awards for outstanding livability and 9 Gunther Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in housing and consolidated planning.

Contact and connect with Micheal and Gabrielle: michael@greenspaceschattanooga.com

gabrielle@greenspaceschattanooga.com

Green Spaces: http://www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/

Integrated Community Sustainability Plan: http://www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/integrated-community-sustainability-plan

Sandy Kurtz is co -president of BREDL’s board of directors and she works with numerous other environmental organizations. We will be discussing how renewable energy has changed and advanced within her lifetime and all the work she has been doing along the way. And from the beginning BREDL has supported communities and organizations, big and small, in making internal changes to achieve their renewable energy goals. Sandy will speak some about that and ways you personally can reduce energy consumption.

Contact and connect with Sandy: sandykurtz4@gmail.com

Follow BREDL’s Instagram: BREDL_HQ

Jovita Lee is with the Center for Biological Diversity. By applying law, science and creative media, the Center for Biological Diversity believes that to fight the climate emergency and extinction crisis, we must revolutionize our world to be entirely powered by clean, renewable, wildlife-friendly and democratic energy. They wage innovative legal and grassroots campaigns to drive this urgent transition for energy justice. Recently in North Carolina, a permit was approved for livestock liquid waste to be transformed into natural gas and Jovita will begin by covering what the new bio gas permit in North Carolina means for halting the Road to Renewables and other projects she’s working on.

Thank you so much to Jovita for speaking with me about your passion and expertise. BREDL along with the Center for Biological Diversity does not approve of biogas for CFAOS as a renewable energy source and you can read why in our Smoke and Mirrors report in the show notes below. And tune in next Friday where I talk with Sandy Kurtz and how renewable energy has changed in her lifetime.

Contact and connect with Jovita: JLee@biologicaldiversity.org

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/

Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/energy-justice/

John Farrell works with the Institute for Local Self Reliance, a national research and advocacy organization fighting corporate control to develop the intersection between the economy and the environment. John Farrell is the director of their Energy Democracy Initiative, which, as the name suggests, is a movement to allow more public choice in energy source consumption. The cause hopes to take the decision of energy sources from larger utilities and corporations and give it to us as individuals, so we have more options in our energy resources and hence can choose a more sustainable, renewable energy source. Join me as we learn more from John what the Energy Democracy Initiative means for us and progression to sustainability.

Contact and connect with John: jfarrell@ilsr.org  

ILSR: https://ilsr.org/about-the-institute-for-local-self-reliance/staff-and-board/john-farrell/ https://ilsr.org/energy/ 

Maggie Shober is the Director of Utility Reform at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Maggie works to speed the clean energy transformation in the Southeast through analysis and advocacy. She has expertise in renewable energy, energy efficiency, coal retirements, energy market modeling, and transmission. In this episode, we unpack and identify the key concepts, goals, and logistics in moving toward a more renewable future. We will hear the definition of what “clean energy” is and a breakdown of common terminology used in the discussion. Maggie also gives us some great tips on what you as listeners can do from home. Part of Maggie’s work includes researching developments related to the transition to clean energy and then breaking it down to a format more digestible to the public in her blog posts. You can read her pieces at cleanenergy.org/blog/staff/maggie-shober and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Contact and connect with Maggie: maggie@cleanenergy.org 

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy: cleanenergy.org 

Smoke and Mirrors report (why we are in opposition of bio fuels): https://www.bredl.org/search-results.htm?cx=010984996806542994840%3A5bo6_yjam9k&cof=FORID%3A11&q=smoke+and+mirrios&sa=Search

Hello all! It’s your host, Jenn Galler bringing you new season called The Road to Renewables. We will be learning the basics of renewable energy. As well as acknowledging the progress we have made and the steps we still have to take to achieve clean energy from our renewable resources. Before we get started, so we are all on the same page, I would like to identify our renewable resources. Firstly we have solar energy – from the sun, wind energy, hydroelectric- harnessed by hydro dams in lakes, ocean energy- harnessed by tidal patterns, geothermal energy- harnessed from the earth’s surface and biomass – energy produced by living organisms like plants. Renewable energy tends to be carbon neutral, meaning its consumption leads to no added output of carbon dioxide into our earth's atmosphere and thus has no detrimental effects to our earth, climate and ecosystems.

Non renewable resources on the other hand are our more traditional energies such as our fossil fuels - coal, crude oil and natural gas. These fossil fuels are finite, unsustainable and emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and contribute a huge amount to our climate crisis.

Within the season, we will further unpack what experts, activists, and people on the ground are doing on a local, state, and national level to move us further on a just road to renewable energy. I am super excited to unpack this topic with you all so let's get started!

Court Lewis is President of the Executive Committee of Unicoi Clear. The asphalt company, Summers-Taylor Materials Corp. has revised its application for an air quality permit to expand operations at the former Construction Asphalt Paving Services plant in Unicoi, TN.

The town of Unicoi joined in the request for a public hearing in June following a Unicoi Planning Commission meeting in which town residents addressed concerns including:

• An increase in emissions beyond those permitted by the state since the plant began operations in the 1990s.

• Increases in noise and truck traffic that could negatively impact property values.

• Detrimental impacts on the quality of life, health and property values of residents of more than 100 families who live near the plant.

• TDEC’s failure to publish a notice of Summers-Taylor initial application for a permit to expand operations in Unicoi in a newspaper likely to be read by Unicoi County residents and subsequent award of that permit.

• Summers-Taylor purchase of property adjoining the plant and town zoning ordinances that prohibit asphalt plants outside the two-acre CAPS site.

With Court we discuss Unicoi Clear and why they formed as a group, rezoning of the site, public health and environmental impacts of asphalt plants, proximity of the asphalt plant to residents, and how you can support their work.

Contact and connect with Court: unicoi-air@mindspring.com

More on Summer Taylor’s Asphalt plant: https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/summers-taylor-revises-application-for-unicoi-asphalt-plant-expansion-public-hearing-postponed/article_88fae136-d11f-11ea-b0b5-bf48a51a6e5e.html

Elizabeth O’Nan is Chair of Chapel Hill Organization for Clean Energy or CHOCE for short.

Despite past promises by UNC to cut coal by 2020, the administration reneged on that promise a few years later and they are still burning dirty coal. UNC Chapel Hill is the only institute of higher learning in North Carolina still operating a coal-burning plant.

Now, North Carolina’s Division of Air Quality or DAQ for short has just issued a draft of its Title 5 Air Permit for the UNC coal plant which would allow them to burn MORE coal and emit MORE air pollution.

Every major polluting facility in the country must have an air permit to operate. Permits are required by Title V of the Clean Air Act. The permit sets legal allowable limits for how much air pollution a facility can emit. Specifically, the permit regulates sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter/soot, and hazardous air pollutants emitted from the UNC coal plant.

Some of the major impacts of this draft permit is that it will significantly increase pollution and worsen the health impacts on the community.

DAQ has removed the heat input limit from the draft permit. Without a heat input limit, there is no way to enforce the limit on the amount of pollutants that can be released from the coal plant’s smokestack and allows the coal plant to pollute as much as it wants.

This permit will lead to increased asthma attacks, respiratory illness, heart attacks, and premature death for the surrounding communities.

With Elizabeth we discuss this Title 5 permit and what it could mean, health and environmental impacts, and tune in for the last bit to learn how you can take action to oppose this permit!

Contact and connect with Elizabeth: CHOCE.NC@gmail.com

CHOCE FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CHOCE

Air Permit information: https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2021/03/31/release-public-hearing-draft-unc-title-v-permit-be-held-may-4

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/north-carolina-air-regulators-propose-to-eliminate-restrictions-on-harmful-coal-emissions-from-unc-chapel-hill-power-plant-2021-04-26/

https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/04/university-coal-plant-concerns-permit-lawsuit

Comments can be submitted by email to DAQ.publiccomments@ncdenr.gov with the subject line ["UNC.15B"] You may also leave a voicemail comment at (919) 707-8726. Comments will be accepted until May 6, 2021 at 5 p.m.

A public hearing will be held (by telephone) May 4th at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.

If you wish to speak at the public hearing, you must register by May 4 at 4 p.m. To register, please visit: https://bit.ly/3clFndZ or call (919) 618-0968.

Debra David* is President of Concerned Citizens of Richmond County. They formed to stop Enviva - a biomass wood pellet facility that is riddled with asthma-inducing health impacts. It threatens to destroy natural hardwood forests and is a terrible environmental injustice. Enviva is the world’s largest exporter of wood pellets,and they are threatening the livelihoods of communities, forests, and the climate by proposing to build their fourth wood pellet biomass facility in North Carolina, but the small-town community members of Richmond County rose up to say “No!”

And most recently they have been facing an International Tie Disposal  proposal or ITD for short. The N.C. Department of Air Quality held a virtual public hearing to solicit comments regarding a synthetic minor air quality permit submitted by International Tie Disposal, LLC.

ITD plans to build a biochar plant on property in the Marks Creek community north of Hamlet which was rezoned late last year by the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.

Residents there are already exposed to multiple polluting industries and the county ranks higher than 80% of other counties in proximity to facilities using extremely hazardous substances and millions are spent in medical care for asthma and other breathing problems.

With Debra we discuss background on Concerned Citizens of Richmond County, Enviva and the latest ITD proposal, actions they are taking, and how you can support their work.

Contact and connect with Debra: debradavid600@gmail.com

Enviva: https://cleanaircarolina.org/envivaplant/

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article231156248.html

ITD proposal: https://richmondobserver.com/national-news/item/11346-opposition-dominates-permit-public-hearing-for-proposed-itd-hamlet-plant.html

Hope Taylor is Executive Director Emerita at Clean Water for North Carolina. Their vision is to have clean, safe, accessible water for all North Carolinians, protected by empowered, educated communities and a publicly accountable government and economy.

Campaigns they work on surrounding clean water include: fracking and fracked gas pipelines, water justice, coal ash, and factory farms.

CWFNC’s Hope and BREDL were cohorts on Salisbury asphalt and Blue Ridge (formerly Champion) paper mill campaigns, among many others. As well as involved in the victorious decade-long fight against the Southeast Compact Commission and the eight-state low-level radioactive waste dump.

With Hope we discuss campaigns CWFNC and BREDL have worked on together, her journey to become Executive Director and what she is doing now in retirement, what clean water means to her, and how you can support their work.

Contact and connect with Hope: hope@cwfnc.org

Clean Water for NC: https://cwfnc.org/

Nick Trombetta is an organizer with the Sunrise Movement in Chapel Hill, NC.

The Sunrise Movement is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. They’re building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.

With Nick we discuss the Sunrise Movement's mission, why it is important for youth to be involved in the climate movement, the Green New Deal, and actions they’re taking locally.

In the episode there are talks about politicians, but BREDL does not endorse any politician or political party.

Contact and connect with Nick: nicktrombetta1373@gmail.com

Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/?ms=SunriseMovement-WeAreTheClimateRevolution

How to get involved: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/take-action/?ms=HowtoTakeActionwithSunrise

Cathy Buckly who founded the Raleigh, NC chapter of the Climate Reality Project.

In 2006, former US Vice President Al Gore got the world talking about climate change with the Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth.

It was just the beginning of a climate revolution. Later that year, he founded what would become The Climate Reality Project to move the conversation forward and turn awareness into action all across the Earth.

The Climate Reality Project’s mission is to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every sector of society.

They believe real change comes from the ground up. And that a small-but-committed critical mass of activists can not only transform society, but change the world.

They recruit, train, and mobilize people to become powerful activists, providing the skills, campaigns, and resources to push for aggressive climate action and high-level policies that accelerate a just transition to clean energy.

With Cathy we discuss the background with the climate reality project, some of the biggest factors in climate change today, actions they are doing on a state level, and a climate training you all can participate in.

Contact and connect with Cathy: cbuckleycc@gmail.com

Sign up for the training: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/training

Climate Reality Project Chapters: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/chapters

Maya van Rossum is Executive Director of Delaware River Keepers whose mission is to champion the rights of our communities to the Delaware River and tributary streams that are free-flowing, clean, healthy, and abundant with a diversity of life.

The Delaware is the longest undammed river east of the Mississippi, flowing freely for 330 miles as it travels from New York state, through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware to the Atlantic Ocean. The Delaware's 13,539 square mile watershed is only about four-tenths of one percent of the continental U.S. land area, but it supplies water to five percent of the nation's population --- over 15 million people. The lower end of the River and its Estuary host the world’s largest horseshoe crab population and an active commercial fishery, yet are marked by heavy industry and busy shipping traffic. The Delaware River Port Complex is the largest freshwater port in the world and is the largest for steel and paper in North America. The Port is the East Coast’s largest importer of cocoa beans and fruit and as much as seventy percent of the oil shipped to the Atlantic Coast moves through the Estuary. The Delaware River is a beautiful waterway that people from all around enjoy every day. From fishing to swimming, kayaking to paddleboarding - the Delaware River provides us with dozens of recreation opportunities.

The Delaware River Keepers also has an initiative called For The Generations which is a nationwide effort designed to help advance The Green Amendments which are constitutional rights to pure water, clean air and a healthy environment, understanding that only by advancing this call for protection throughout our four watershed states, across the nation and at the federal level will we be able to achieve the highest level of environmental protection we all need, deserve and are entitled to.

With Maya we discuss background on the Delaware River, species in it and the significance of the River, threats that are posed against it, what actions they’re taking, and her movement to pass Green Amendment laws in every state and then move to the federal level.

Contact and connect with Maya: Keepermaya@delawareriverkeeper.org

Delaware River Keepers: https://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/

Green Amendment Book: https://delaware-riverkeeper-network-river-shop.myshopify.com/

For The Generations: A Movement to Pass the Green Amendment: https://forthegenerations.org/

Brianna Knisley is TN Field Coordinator for the Energy Democracy Program at Appalachian Voices. Bri’s passion for rural solutions was formed through her upbringing in a community struggling with economic, social and environmental issues faced by many rural places across the U.S.

In the episode we talk about, “Energy Democracy” which is local people having control of how their electricity is produced and distributed to ensure everyone has access to affordable and clean power.

Two decades into the 21st century, advances in solar panels, battery storage, modernized electric grids and other technologies are revolutionizing how our electricity can be produced and distributed. But large utility companies with monopoly control over the market are keeping us locked into using increasingly expensive polluting fuels like coal and fracked gas to generate our electricity.

But a movement toward Energy Democracy is growing across Appalachia and throughout the country. Local individuals and groups are standing up to demand a seat at the table with decision makers to ensure we transition to a system that is affordable and fair, provides community wealth and jobs, and is built on clean, renewable energy.

With Brianna we discuss what energy democracy is and its importance, what’s going on with energy democracy in TN - specifically with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), actions they do, suggestions to the Biden Administration’s transition team, and how you can support their work.

Appalachian Voices: https://appvoices.org/energydemocracy/tennessee/

Energy Democracy FB group:

Bull Run Plant Closing and next steps: https://www.power-eng.com/coal/tva-offers-qa-on-issues-surrounding-coal-fired-bull-run-closure/#gref https://insideclimatenews.org/news/14022019/tva-coal-power-plants-shut-down-vote-trump-mcconnell-pressure-paradise-kentucky-bull-run-tennessee/

TVA Coal Ash: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/hundreds-workers-who-cleaned-countrys-worst-coal-ash-spill-are-now-sick-and-dying

John Runkle who is a retired Attorney at Law. Over the many years, John shared his legal skills to many BREDL campaigns  – with communities all over North Carolina. Including landfills, coal ash, nuclear plants and more. Some fights were won, others lost, but John was there to make sure folks had legal protection against being trampled by polluters or various government agencies.

Our Executive Director, Lou Zeller has said “John’s the best environmental attorney in the state, bar none,” “What he understands that many attorneys do not is how community organizing campaigns work. He will tell you if that’s a bad idea and won’t work. When we do get into a campaign John is willing to work with us side by side.”

With John we discuss the BREDL campaigns he’s worked on, how to work with attorneys in grassroots campaigns, and challenges he’s seen in his work.

Contact and connect with John: jrunkle@pricecreek.com

Highlighting John’s work:

https://www.ncwarn.org/2018/12/john-runkle-celebrating-a-lifetime/

https://www.coastalreview.org/2014/07/coastal-sketch-john-runkle/

Attorneys in Grassroots Campaigns: https://www.grassrootslaw.org/

This episode we honor Judy Hogan who is retiring as President of Chatham Citizens Against Coal Ash Dump. She has played a critical role in BREDL campaigns with CCAAD which includes victories such as Dec.16, 2020: the Administrative Law Judge Melissa Owens-Lassiter reversed her decision which had allowed coal ash to be disposed of in Chatham and Lee Counties, the communities are announcing another victory. Charah, Inc.- the company that owns the two sites, has dropped their appeal of the 2019 ruling and has agreed that no coal ash will go to Lee and Chatham County.

I also speak with Diana Hales who is a Vice Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners who has worked closely with Judy. And then Debbie Hall who is a member of Environmental Lee or ELEE for short, where she and the two chapters have worked together on past campaigns.

First I talk with Diana Hales about Judy and her work from the County Commissioners perspective. Then I speak with Debbie Hall on her personal experience and organizing with Judy. I then speak with Judy herself, and we discuss her time as President, her victories, and what this work meant to her.

Judy, Diana, and Debbie: judyhogan@mindspring.com, diana.hales@chathamcountync.gov, debhall@windstream.net

Chatham County Commissioners: https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/board-of-commissioners/commissioner-contacts-bios#hales

Judy’s Books:

Sam Tesh is BREDL’s co-president of the board of directors of BREDL

Sam has been a part of BREDL for several decades and now serves as our Board of Directors Co-President. He has been a critical part of past BREDL campaigns such as fighting ThermalKEM’s hazardous waste incinerator He’s also worked with organizations such as GreenPeace and Sierra Club.

With Sam we discuss his background within the environmental realm, some of the BREDL campaigns he’s worked on, what the biggest problems he sees regarding the environment today, and why he keeps with this work.

Contact and connect with Sam: wtesh@surry.net

See updates and what we're doing: BREDL.org 

Background Music Credits:

https://www.youtube.com/c/mbbmusic

https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficial

https://www.instagram.com/mbb_music

Cathy Cralle Jones is a Senior Litigation Associate at the Law Offices of F. Bryan Brice, Jr. She focuses her practice on environmental litigation and has represented many property owners, business operators, and citizen groups in matters involving mold, groundwater and soil contamination, regulatory compliance, toxic torts, and land use matters. Her experience includes cases involving CERCLA, RCRA, OPHSCA, the Clean Water Act, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act.

Cathy has been crucial in our environment justice fights in Lee, Chatham County, and surrounding counties in NC. She has written articles regarding the resolution of the challenge to the Coal Ash Fill permits in Chatham and Lee Counties.

With Cathy we discuss her journey to become an environmental attorney, campaigns she’s worked on with BREDL, 2020 victories, patterns she sees, and what keeps her coming back to this work.

Contact and connect with Cathy: http://attybryanbrice.com/our-professionals/attorneys/cathy-cralle-jones/

F Bryan Brice: http://attybryanbrice.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Law-Offices-of-F-Bryan-Brice-Jr-138332119643031/

Michael Arnold was front and center in the campaign to halt ThermalKEM’s incinerator.

On May 22th, 1989, North Carolina Senate Bill 324 (Hazardous Waste Management) was ratified by a bipartisan majority of elected representatives. North Carolina joined a five-state compact that would commit the state to site – and build – a hazardous waste incinerator for ThermalKEM, a private company. This occurred against the backdrop of a notorious incinerator that had been allowed to dangerously operate in Caldwell County with virtually no oversight by the state.

In 1990, the State of North Carolina proposed two sites in Granville County as locations for the incinerator. Residents organized with friends and supporters from around the state and – after eight months of marches, fund-raising, lawsuits, public hearings, civil disobedience, and arrests – succeeded in stopping the incinerator from being built.

Whatever It Takes is a pictorial history of the successful protest campaign. The book’s title comes from the protesters’ pledge to do “whatever it takes” to defeat the incinerator.

With Micheal we discuss his experience in this fight, what impacts a hazardous waste incinerator has, actions they did, and what led to this successful victory.

IAP (Incinerator Archive Project)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDir5d8Yy14AA54YeHHxd2w https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDir5d8Yy14AA54YeHHxd2w 

Website

http://fightoftheirlives.com

Whatever It Takes  (eBook...1,900 + pages. 500MB download)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8YiD_nYU28NMEZ6bFNrRU5kVGs/view?usp=sharing

There's more links/information  at the other video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd-xhinazp0&list=PLbfZIkjeDwoNrDYiBsTZmGA89obAMxG76&pbjreload=101

Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd-xhinazp0&list=PLbfZIkjeDwoNrDYiBsTZmGA89obAMxG76