Current Press Releases

State EPD admits mistake in permitting wastewater treatment facility on McIntosh County marsh hammock
July 24, 2008
After the Southern Environmental Law Center and Altamaha Riverkeeper requested that Georgia’s Office of State Administrative Hearings review a permit for a wastewater treatment facility on a small marsh hammock in McIntosh County, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division reversed course, admitting the permit was issued in error.
Lawsuit targets Duke’s illegal construction of Cliffside
July 16, 2008
Environmental organizations will sue Duke Energy Carolinas today over Duke’s construction of a new coal-fired power plant at the Cliffside Steam Station that was not designed to meet legal limits on its emissions of hazardous air pollutants, such as mercury, arsenic and dioxins.
Court of Appeals builds on lower court ruling to give stronger protections to state’s waters
July 15, 2008
The Court of Appeals today strengthened protections for the state’s lakes and rivers by confirming a lower court’s decision that the state has a duty under federal and state law to protect existing uses of surface waters. At issue was the designation of a 12-mile stretch of the Catawba River as “trout waters,” a designation that would protect the existing populations of brown and rainbow trout in the river.
Forest agency to re-start planning for the George Washington National Forest
July 9, 2008
As the U.S. Forest Service re-starts its process to update the long-range plan for the 1.1 million acre George Washington National Forest in western Virginia, a broad coalition of citizen groups called on the agency to focus on protecting clean water, diverse wildlife habitat, old-growth forests and remote, wild areas, as well as prime spots for fishing, hunting and other outdoors recreation.
Response to Santee Cooper's July 1, 2008 announcement regarding mercury and the 2008 Energy Generation Plan
July 1, 2008
A joint statement from SELC and the Coastal Conservation League about Santee Cooper's analysis of the plans for its Pee Dee Energy Campus.
Statement on Duke Energy’s announcement that it plans to perform a “maximum achievable” controls assessment for mercury and hazardous air pollutants at Cliffside Unit 6
June 13, 2008
At the urging of the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Duke Energy today announced that it will perform an assessment of the Maximum Achievable Control Technology for mercury and other hazardous pollutants. The assessment, if performed correctly, will result in the most stringent emissions limitations achievable for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants at the new unit at Duke’s Cliffside power plant near Shelby. However, Duke also announced that construction of the plant will continue as the MACT analysis is performed, violating federal law.
Forested wetlands receive landmark protections from federal court
June 2, 2008
A decision that will provide strengthened protection for forested wetlands throughout the United States and will protect Georgia’s coast from an abuse of tree harvesting operations was handed down recently by U.S. District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield.
: Statement on The NC Division of Air Quality’s letter requiring Duke to meet Clean Air Act standards for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
June 2, 2008
The North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) notified Duke Energy Carolinas that the new unit recently permitted at Duke’s Cliffside power plant near Shelby must incorporate the most stringent emissions limitations achievable for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants as required by the Clean Air Act. The statement linked above is from SELC attorney Gudrun Thompson.; State to review wastewater treatment facility on McIntosh County marsh hammock
June 2, 2008
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s decision to allow a wastewater treatment facility as part of a residential development on a small marsh hammock in McIntosh County has come under the scrutiny of the state. The Georgia Office of Administrative Hearings has announced that on Friday, June 6, it will review the decision by EPD to permit an on-site sewage treatment facility on Union Island, a marsh hammock slated to be developed with vacation homes.; South has much at stake as U.S. Senate begins historic debate on climate change legislation
June 2, 2008
The U.S. Senate today began much-anticipated debate on the Climate Change Security Act of 2008, also known as the Warner-Lieberman bill. The U.S. has lagged well behind other industrial nations in addressing the threat of global warming.; Tennessee ranks #1 in U.S. with most metro areas having large carbon footprint
May 29, 2008
Tennessee's four largest metro areas rank among the top 25 in the country for having the highest level of global warming emissions per capita, according to a report released today examining the carbon footprint of U.S. urban centers.; Forest Service threatened with lawsuit for protecting Tellico River watershed
May 23, 2008
Three organizations that promote motorized recreation on public lands issued a press statement late Thursday threatening to sue the U.S. Forest Service for closing several miles of off-road vehicle trails in the Tellico ORV Area of the Nantahala Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina.; Bird populations on the rise at Hatteras under new plan
May 23, 2008
The number of birds nesting on Cape Hatteras National Seashore is already showing preliminary signs of recovery, less than a month after additional sections of the beach were closed under a new management plan that provides additional protection. According to the National Park Service, the number of piping plovers on the beach increased from six pairs in 2007 to at least eight pairs, the highest number of piping plovers on the Seashore since 1998. American oystercatchers on the beach have increased from 22 pairs in 2007 to 31 pairs so far this season.; Clean energy advocates petition Dominion Power to call off its dirty coal plant, invest in clean energy
May 8, 2008
Citizens from Wise County, where Dominion Power proposes building a controversial coal-fired power plant, and from across Virginia rallied in Richmond today to urge the company to drop the project and instead invest in energy efficiency and other clean sources of power. Representatives of the Wise Energy for Virginia coalition presented Dominion with a mile-long ribbon of paper with more than 42,400 signatures of people opposed to the coal plant.; Environmental groups to Duke: Stop illegal construction of Cliffside or face lawsuit
May 6, 2008
On behalf of four environmental groups, the Southern Environmental Law Center will put Duke Energy Carolinas on notice today that the company is violating the law by constructing a new unit at its Cliffside power plant without complying with Clean Air Act standards for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and that continuing to do so could result in a lawsuit. SELC will send the 60-day notice letter to Duke on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Sierra Club.