Press Releases
Charlottesville 29 Bypass Far From a “Done Deal”
Despite this summer's rush job by local and state officials to push through the long-dormant, controversial western bypass of U.S. 29, the project is far from a done deal, two leading conservation organizations said today.
Virginia Environmental Organizations Applaud Dominion Decision to Phase Out Two Coal Plants
Dominion Resources Inc., the Commonwealth of Virginia's largest utility, announced yesterday that it will phase out two of its oldest and dirtiest coal fired power plants. Environmental organizations roundly applauded Dominion's move, but simultaneously called...
Groups Call on North Carolina to Build Safer Route after Sea Reclaims Outer Banks Highway
Conservation groups today called on the North Carolina Department of Transportation to rethink its plan for replacing Bonner Bridge at its current location and instead build a safer, more reliable access route for Outer Banks...
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Backpedals on Monroe Bypass; Questions Still Remain
On August 23, when news became public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) had informed the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that it was reconsidering its approval of the proposed Monroe Bypass, the agency...
Federal Agency Reconsiders Approval for Monroe Bypass
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has informed federal and state agencies that it is reconsidering its approval of the proposed Monroe Bypass near Charlotte due to misinformation in the environmental analysis concluding there would...
Conservation Groups Denounce Approval of Coal Mine Permit
The Alabama Environmental Management Commission (EMC) today unanimously voted to approve a permit issued for the Shepherd Bend coal mine, a 1,773-acre strip mine to be located less than 1,000 feet from Birmingham's primary drinking...
Lawsuit Challenges Clean Air Act Exemption for Biomass Burners
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging an Environmental Protection Agency rule that exempts large-scale biomass-burning facilities from carbon dioxide limits under the Clean Air Act for the next three years.
Groups Urge MPO to Drop Northern Beltline From Local Transportation Plan
Two local groups have asked the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to remove the Northern Beltline from the proposed four-year funding plan because of the project's ballooning price tag, questionable economic benefits and harmful effects on...
Draft Air Permit for Titan Cement Plant Merits Scrutiny
Conservation groups will examine closely a draft air permit for the proposed Titan cement plant issued today by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and encourage the public to participate in the upcoming...
SELC Statement on Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO Vote to Approve 29 Bypass
"SELC and most others in this community believe the 29 bypass is the wrong project for solving traffic on Route 29, but one thing nearly everyone agrees on is that it shouldn't go forward without...