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Canary Coalition Calls for Reform of the NC Division of Air Quality The Canary Coalition has launched a statewide
campaign to reform the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) in North Carolina
in response to inadequacies in enforcement policies and an
inappropriate relationship between the Administration of the state’s
principle air quality regulation enforcement agency and the industries
it is charged with regulating. According to statistics derived from an EPA
database* only eleven percent of air quality regulation violations are
prosecuted in North Carolina. This represents the seventh worst
enforcement record in the country. In addition, the DAQ has failed to provide
ample opportunity for public involvement in the Title V permit
application process for polluting industries, despite specific requests
for public hearings by numerous community organizations. DAQ officials have inappropriately advocated
for legislation that eases restrictions on polluting industries in
North Carolina. In violation of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act,
using false and misleading information that caters to the interests of
heavily polluting industries, DAQ officials have advised the NC
Attorney General to refrain from legal action against federal
government policies that result in out-of-state pollution threatening
the health and environment of all North Carolinians. DAQ reform is one of five air quality issues
the Canary Coalition has introduced to legislators at the opening of
the 2004 session in Raleigh today, May 10. Information
has been delivered to the office of each Senator and Representative
containing presentations on the issues of Climate Change, Mercury
Emission Reductions, Wind Energy Promotion and DAQ reform. The Canary
Coalition has also introduced a proposed resolution from the General
Assembly to the NC Congressional Delegation, urging support for strong
federal legislation to clean up “grandfathered” power plants and
opposition to pending legislation that would weaken the current federal
Clean Air Act. *http://www.epa.gov/echo/ For more information call the Canary Coalition office: 828-631-3447
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