North Carolina environmental justice groups announced today that they reached a settlement agreement with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) of a 2014 Title VI complaint filed with the Environmental Protection Agency. The complaint, filed by the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN), Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH), and Waterkeeper Alliance, alleged that DEQ allowed industrial swine facilities to operate with “grossly inadequate and outdated systems of controlling animal waste” resulting in an “unjustified disproportionate impact on the basis of race and national origin against African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans.”

Under the Agreement, which was reached after an intensive 13-month long mediation, DEQ commits to new policies to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws, including a language access program and the development of an Environmental Justice (EJ) tool to examine demographic, health, and environmental characteristics of communities impacted by DEQ policies. In addition, DEQ agreed to a number of changes in the draft of the swine general permit that will be considered in the upcoming stakeholder process for the next swine general permit. Naeema Muhammed, Executive Director of the NCEJN, recognized the groundbreaking nature of the settlement but also cautioned “At the same time, the harmful effects of the hog industry on communities in eastern North Carolina continue, and all of us involved in this struggle need to keep the pressure on. There is still a long way to go to address the harms caused by the swine industry.” “While these changes may seem technical,” added Will Hendrick of Waterkeeper Alliance, “they will begin to address air and water pollution from the swine industry.”

“For too long people living in Duplin, Sampson and other counties in the heart of hog country have had trouble breathing when they go outside,” said Devon Hall, the Co-Founder and Program Manager of REACH. “Even small changes in the permit can be important, like making clear that DEQ has authority to inspect without prior notice. It’s unacceptable that DEQ has been giving facilities advance notice before conducting an inspection, which means that the operation can just change what it has been doing and clean up before the inspector arrives.”

Hall also emphasized the importance of provisions in the settlement agreement calling for community involvement in water and air monitoring. “People who live here can walk outside, smell the problem, and see the waste running into nearby ditches and streams,” said Hall. “But we want to help document the impacts of the CAFO industry on our community. With thousands of swine operations across eastern North Carolina, the provisions in this agreement calling for monitoring may feel like a drop in the bucket, but they are a good start.”

“For too many years, the `lagoon (or cesspool) and sprayfield’ system of waste management has allowed feces and urine to blow through the air and flow from the sprayfields into our waterways and into nearby communities,” said Larry Baldwin, the Crystal Coast Waterkeeper. “There’s still a long way to go but our groups will continue the work needed. The provisions in this agreement are a step in the right direction and provide more opportunities for people in eastern North Carolina to have a voice in decisions affecting their future.”

Will Hendrick stated, “DEQ has the responsibility to ensure that these facilities operate in a way that prevents negative impacts on their neighbors. Terms proposed for the general permit stakeholder process are a start, but DEQ needs to go further in the future to protect communities. Mandatory groundwater monitoring is needed, for example, to ensure protection of vital resources.”

“Most importantly, we believe that this agreement signifies a new dynamic in the relationship between DEQ and the communities of color that are most severely impacted by the policies and decisions it makes,” noted Ms. Muhammad. “As a result of the process we have engaged with DEQ over the last three years, the needs and priorities of those communities will be at the forefront of DEQ’s considerations going forward.”

REACH, NCEJN, and Waterkeeper Alliance are committed to continuing to hold DEQ accountable—to the settlement agreement, and to DEQ’s broader mission of serving the people of North Carolina and protecting the state’s environment. The groups are represented by Earthjustice, the Yale Law School Environmental Justice Clinic, and the Julius L. Chambers Center for Civil Rights.

The principal at Cleveland County’s Burns High School just suspended several students after they flew Confederate battle flags from the back of their pick-up trucks.

The 10 students who were suspended flew the flags from the back of their vehicles, which they parked in the school’s parking lot.

The school is located about 40 miles west of Charlotte, in the tiny town of Lawndale, NC, just above Shelby;

Burns High School Principal Mickey Morehead said the students were suspended for insubordination after being asked to take down the flags, according to the Shelby Star.

“They were asked to remove the flags, and they didn’t,” Morehead said.

The following is part of the statement released by the school;

Any conduct that would cause a disruption in our educational environment may be subject to discipline via the CCS Code of Conduct. Please understand that an immediate suspension may very well likely not be the consequence of a matter such as the one in question.

According to the school’s handbook;

“Students are expected to comply without delay to the directives of all school personnel at all times while a student is at school or involved in a school-related activity. Students who fail to comply with the directions of any school personnel anytime during the school day, during extra-curricular activities or during any period that the school personnel has authority, have violated this policy.”

By being insubordinate, high school students face up to three days of suspension, the handbook notes.

What do you think about the school’s decision? 

As the weather continues to heat up, the CDC is now warning the Carolinas to take extra precautions against mosquitos that could be infected with the deadly West Nile virus.

In 2017, the CDC reported that there were 7 confirmed cases and 2 deaths in North Carolina and 17 confirmed cases and 2 deaths in South Carolina from the West Nile virus.

They released the following information about how to kill and prevent mosquito bites and the spread of the West Nile and other viruses;

It’s also important to be aware of the signs of the virus, including fever, headache and muscle pains.

It can take up to a week for symptoms to start. The CDC said taking action will help mitigate the risk of West Nile virus.

Health officials are now recommending that Carolina residents help reduce the mosquito population by spraying any standing water and wet areas of their yards with natural mosquito repellant.

Please help spread the word!

A North Carolina pastor has been charged in Turkey with terrorism abroad – if convicted, he could face several years in prison.

North Carolina senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr recently sent a letter, signed by 78 members of the US Congress, directly to the Turkish president requesting Andrew Brunson’s immediate release and deportation back to the United States.

The letter reads, “Mr. Brunson has worked peacefully in Turkey since 1993. There appears to be no evidence to substantiate the charges against him for membership in an armed terrorist organization.”

It goes on to talk about the ‘close partnership’ between the US and Turkey, and says: ‘Now is the time for our countries to reaffirm respect for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law while reasserting our shared commitment to addressing security challenges through partnerships and cooperation.

In addition to the letter sent by the US Congress, there is also a growing petition to free the North Carolina pastor that’s received over 200,000 signatures, as well as a WhiteHouse.gov petition, pleading with President Trump to take action on Pastor Brunson’s behalf.

On April 26th, Norine Brunson, Andrew’s wife post this to their Facebook page.

Pastor Brunson was initially arrested on October 7th, 2016 – it’s now been over a year and a half since Andrew was initially detained in Turkey for an unsubstantiated charge of terrorism.

You can sign the ACLJ petition here – or the petition asking President Trump to take action here.

You can follow the latest developments on the Brunson’s Facebook page here.

Please help spread the word!