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| Pollute First, Get a Permit Later? |
| The North Carolina Senate is working on a bill that would allow companies to almost entirely finish construction on a new plant before receiving an air quality permit for any pollution the plant would emit. Senate Bill 945, which was recently approved by the Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, is now in the Finance Committee. Proponents argue that the bill is needed to speed up the permitting process and to attract companies to North Carolina. Opponents counter that North Carolina already has more lenient laws on this issue than some of its neighbors. This bill is fundamentally flawed in several ways: To begin with, it completely circumvents public participation and input into the permitting process. If construction is already underway, there's no chance to improve the design of the project or to incorporate new pollution reduction measures as part of the permitting process. This bill makes permitting an "all or nothing" deal, with no opportunity for compromise on projects. Furthermore, it would put an enormous amount of pressure on the regulators issuing permits to approve them, biasing the permitting process and making it more likely that the project would be approved. Similar language passed both the House and Senate last session, but the Legislature couldn't agree on a final version. This bill would put the cart before the horse by putting construction before permitting, and should be opposed. |
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more information about SERC, or to use our services, contact our national
headquarters at:
State Environmental Resource Center
106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: [email protected]
106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: [email protected]
