Fishing for Facts – June 13, 2017

Keeping our Water Clean Requires $$

The North Carolina legislature’s time continues to be dominated on budget negotiations. The Senate passed their version of the budget several weeks ago and then wasted no time rejecting the House budget. The 47 House conferees and 25 Senate conferees can be found here.  There are a number of conferees that reside within the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basin. Conferees met all last week to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate budgets and expect to hear progress on that front sometime this week.

Take Action! Ask Senators and Representatives to support Clean Water Initiatives

As we noted in our June 1 Fishing For Facts Blog, the Senate’s version of the budget would further decimate an already skinny Departement of Environmental Quality, the agency responsible for protecting our state’s clean water and air. Contact your Senator and Representative and tell them why clean water means to you and that you support the Governor’s proposed budget for the Department of Environmental Quality!

Priority- North Carolina Legislation

House bill 56, “Amend Environmental Laws ” –  This year, the Senate and House have different versions of “Amend Environmental Law Bills”. It appears as though the House bill will be the one  to move. House bill 56 passed out of the House with only two provisions, but once it was received in the Senate, a number of really bad and controversial provisions were added. One provision would allow for the chopping of trees and vegetation along waterways to protect “public safety”. This could potentially allow for a giant loophole that could be exploited by politically savvy developers pressuring local law enforcement to chop down trees along waterways, harming water quality,  in the name of “public safety”. .

Riparian buffers, tree and vegetation lined waterways,  are one of the most cost effective ways to protect clean water in North Carolina. Trees and vegetation are, in fact, great at removing pollution, stabilizing stream banks, reducing flooding and provide much needed shade for our aquatic friends.

The bill passed out of the House and is currently in the Senate Finance committee.

Please contact your Senator and ask them to vote “no” on House Bill 56.

Remember, if you talk to your NC Legislator or Member of Congress about clean water, we want to hear about it! Send us an email and let us know what you said and what their response was!

To find your NC Representative or Senator, click this link:

http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

NC Legislator Social Media

Climate Action- Governors, businesses and local Communities “Opt In!”

From NC League of Conservation Voters

In the aftermath of the Trump decision to start withdrawal from the Paris international climate agreement, states, cities, and the private sector are all reconfirming their commitments to climate action.

Governors, mayors, and private business/institutional leaders are surging to co-sign the “We Are Still In” open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement. The letter is a joint declaration of continued support for climate action to meet the goals of the agreement.

Gov. Roy Cooper has joined eight other governors to sign the letter, in addition to hundreds of mayors and other leaders. In a statement announcing his signing, Cooper said, “Pulling out of the Paris Accord is wrong for our country, our children, and the generations to come. North Carolina’s commitment to clean air and a healthy environment will remain a priority despite the lack of forward thinking leadership from the current Administration. North Carolina knows that clean air and energy innovation are good for our economy and health, and we’re committed to continuing to lead in this area even if Washington isn’t.”

What you can do?

Join other community members and ask your mayor to  join more than 300 “Climate Mayors” from across the country to commit to adopt, honor and uphold the Paris Climate Agreement goals. So far, only 11 cities have signed on.

North Carolina Mayors that have “Opted In”

Asheville

Carrboro

Chapel Hill

Durham

Franklin

Greensboro

Highlands

Hillsborough

Pittsboro

Raleigh

Winston-Salem

Previously, on Fishing for Facts:

April 13, 2017

April 27, 2017

May 11, 2017

June 1, 2017