For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) has encouraged the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer, a practice marketed as sustainable waste management. However, evidence reveals that this sludge, often laden with toxic PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” contaminates farmland, food, and water sources nationwide. The origin of these chemicals, their risks, and the … Read more
Several North Carolina environmental organizations are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) authority over water permitting. Citing political interference and chronic underfunding, these groups argue that DEQ has been rendered ineffective in safeguarding the state’s water quality. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed … Read more
In a recent event that has sparked concern among local residents and environmentalists, approximately 100 gallons of green-dyed diesel fuel were spilled into the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, during a refueling operation involving a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship. The mishap occurred on Friday morning when a hose coupling malfunctioned while fuel was being … Read more