Special provision for developer

The NC House has approved SB 382 with an amendment that will require that cities to supply water and sewer connections to any development within an urban growth area that request the service. Although this amendment did not mention the project and applies statewide, it has been reported that the amendment was specifically designed to help the developers of the “751 South” development, a large development with 1,300 homes and 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial development. This development has been opposed by environmental organizations. Durham had refused to extend water and sewer to the development, saying that it would cost Durham taxpayers more that the revenue would provide.

Sea Level Rise bill - maybe some sanity

A few days ago a post discussed HB 819, the bill that would force regulations on sea level rise to be based on historical trends and not on scientific predictions of future accelerating rise. That was the bill that was featured in a Steven Colbert segment and widely mocked.


Maybe the anti-science provision won't pass.

Air Toxics Bill – More Than Removing Duplication

HB 952, State Air Toxics Program Reforms, was introduced by Rep. Ruth Samuelson. It has passed the House and it now in the Senate.

Please ask Gov. Perdue to veto fracking bill

I hope everyone will take a few minutes to call or e-mail Governor Bev. Perdue and ask her to veto the fracking bill (SB 820).


Reasons include the high cost of developing regulations, the question of will (not can, but will) fracking be done safely when we have a legislature that has cut enforcement budgets, the loss of rural atmosphere due to lights, noise, and traffic, and the large use of water.


Call (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391 and leave a message or e-mail governor.office@nc.gov.

Sea Level Rise – Ignore Science?

[Update - click here for latest]

One problem with living close to the ocean or to sea level sounds is that, as the sea level rises due to warming, the ocean or sound water will be closer to buildings and may cause the destruction of buildings. Therefore, the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) plans for sea level rise (SLR) for the development of regulations requiring a setback between sea level water and buildings. If a building is destroyed by a storm, the setback regulation will apply to any permit to rebuild.

Fracking bill passes NC Senate and House

The fracking bill, SB-820, has now passed the NC Senate and then the NC House. It still must be sent back to the Senate for that chamber’s concurrence with the House changes, which is expected. The bill will then be sent to the governor for her approval or possible veto.

Fracking bill passes NC Senate

A bill to legalize hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, in NC passed the NC Senate on June 5 and moved to the House. Fracking is a process of extracting natural gas from shale by injection of water and chemicals into the shale in order to break the shale and release trapped gas. It has been linked to contamination of ground water, problems with the disposal of contaminated water that returns to the surface, and other environmental problems.