SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS RELEASES

Army Corps Fails to Protect 500 Acres of Wetlands Near Charleston

February 18, 2010

Conservation groups today notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of their intent to challenge its decision that no permits are required under the federal Clean Water Act before the development of approximately 500 acres of South Carolina wetlands in Black Tom Bay.

SELC Lauds EPA Proposal to Strengthen Ozone Limit to Protect Health of Southerners

January 7, 2010

Consistent with the latest scientific data about the growing health threat from breathing smog pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed to strengthen the national limit for allowable ozone levels. The move would mean that more areas, such as some mid-size cities, will come under Clean Air Act requirements and deadlines leading to more people breathing cleaner air in the future.

Court Declines to Enjoin Port for Now, But Adds Federal Defendants

November 17, 2009

A federal judge declined to enjoin construction of a container shipping terminal in North Charleston for now, but agreed to expand a lawsuit challenging approvals of the terminal to include the FHWA as a defendant.

EPA To Issue Strict Rules for U.S. Power Plant Air Toxics

October 26, 2009

The U.S. EPA agreed to adopt rules reducing toxic air pollution from the nation¹s coal- and oil-burning power plants by November 2011, according to a settlement agreement reached in a federal lawsuit brought against the agency by a coalition of public health and environmental groups.

SELC applauds introduction of forest-protection bill in Congress

October 1, 2009

Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia and Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina, along with 17 members of the Southeast's congressional delegation are joining more than 150 colleagues from across the country and from both sides of the aisle to introduce a bill in the House and Senate today that would permanently protect 58.5 million acres of America's premiere public land.

EPA CO2 Limits Overdue under Clean Air Act, but Welcome

September 30, 2009

SELC welcomed EPA's announcement on a proposal to establish nationwide standards for controlling largest sources of heat trapping gas pollutants.

Six Months of Oil Not Worth a Disaster on Southern Coasts, Says SELC

September 21, 2009

SELC today filed comments that urged the Obama Administration to protect the Atlantic coast and beaches of the South rather than drilling for the small amount of oil offshore.

SELC Urges EPA to Set Strong Smog Limit to Protect Public Health in the South

September 16, 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it will re-evaluate the national limit for ozone pollution.

S.C. Supreme Court Grants Review of Charleston Port Case

September 10, 2009

The S.C. Supreme Court will review a challenge to state permits for the proposed container terminal at the Charleston Navy Base brought by the SELC on behalf of the Coastal Conservation League.

S.C. Pee Dee Coal Plant Suspended

August 24, 2009

SELC hailed today’s unanimous vote by Santee Cooper’s board to suspend permits for the state-owned utility’s proposed Pee Dee coal plant.

Groups Seek to Delay Charleston Port Construction

July 20, 2009

The Southern Environmental Law Center and S.C. Coastal Conservation League today asked a federal court in Charleston to delay construction of a container cargo terminal until the Federal Highway Administration evaluates whether 10,000 vehicles a day can be added safely to I-26, and whether rail options could divert cargo and prevent interstate gridlock.

House Passes First U.S. Effort on Climate Change

June 26, 2009

Passage of this House bill signals a seismic shift in U.S. policy on climate change—from ignoring the problem to attempting to solve it—but the bill needs strengthening by the Senate.

Senate committee passes compromise version of key water protection bill

June 18, 2009

In a major step toward reversing years of attacks on wetlands and water protections, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today passed the Clean Water Restoration Act (S.787) by a 12-7 vote.

Groups Agree: Strong Energy Efficiency Program Ready to Go

June 12, 2009

Environmental organizations today reached an agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas and North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff under which the company agrees to meet an aggressive energy savings target and cap earnings from energy efficiency programs at levels that protect customers’ interests in fair rates while still encouraging strong performance.

New Report: Across America, Waters in Crisis

April 17, 2009

For decades, the Clean Water Act has broadly protected America’s lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water sources from unregulated pollution and destruction, rescuing them from the dire straits they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. But because of a concerted effort by polluters and developers, and muddied rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court, up to 60 percent (at least 15,000 important waters) have lost these vital protections and countless other waters (including more than 50 percent of our streams and 20 million acres of wetlands) are at risk of losing protections.

Groups File Suit to Block State Air Pollution Permit for Unneeded Pee Dee Coal Plant

April 13, 2009

South Carolina’s environmental agency illegally permitted coal-fired power plant.

Wetlands Protection at Stake in Challenge to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

March 24, 2009

SELC has challenged a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers go-ahead to fill one of the largest remaining intact wetlands in an area near Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

Duke Energy’s Save-a-Watt Proposal Rejected by South Carolina Utility Regulators

February 26, 2009

The South Carolina Public Service Commission today rejected Duke Energy Carolinas’ “Save-a-Watt” proposal.

SC Energy Report to Congressional Delegation Fizzles on Solutions

February 5, 2009

In a meeting with South Carolina's Congressional delegation today, a state committee failed to put forward solutions to increase South Carolina's access to innovative, clean renewable energy and reduce the costs of climate change.

SELC Outlines Minimum Coal Waste Safeguards Necessary to Protect Environment, Public Health & Safety

January 14, 2009

Following Congressional pledges for EPA regulation of coal waste after the catastrophic waste spill in Tennessee and a second spill in Alabama, the Southern Environmental Law Center today outlined the minimum safeguards necessary to protect the environment and public health and safety from coal waste.

Top 10 Most Endangered Areas in the South for 2009

January 5, 2009

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the largest environmental advocacy organization dedicated solely to protecting the Southeast, today announced a list of ten special places in the South that face immediate, potentially irreparable threats in 2009.

Environmental Groups Point the Way to Mercury Pollution

December 19, 2008

Today, a coalition of public health and environmental groups filed a lawsuit in federal court here, seeking a firm and enforceable new deadline for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require deep reductions in mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted from coal- and oil-fired power plants.

Court Orders SCDOT to Answer for $150M Upper Santee Bridge

December 9, 2008

A federal appeals court refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging South Carolina Department of Transportation studies endorsing a controversial bridge proposed for the Upper Santee Swamp.

Sprawl, population growth, lack of planning are among factors in Southern drought

September 12, 2008

Despite the rain from recent hurricanes that has fallen across the Southeast, much of the region remains firmly in the grip of drought conditions

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.

Federal court ruling will send Pee Dee plant draft air permit back to the drawing board for more stringent mercury controls

February 8, 2008

A federal court ruling today will mean that the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) must re-evaluate Santee Cooper’s plans to control mercury at the utility’s proposed Pee Dee coal plant near Pamplico, SC.

EPA loses federal court battle over mercury

February 8, 2008

The Environmental Protection agency must require power plants, the leading source of mercury pollution in the U.S, to better control their emissions of the dangerous toxin, a federal court ruled today.

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