Brunswick Environmental Action Team
BEAT sincerely wishes everyone a Happy Earth Day 2023! We are grateful to all who continue to share both their ideas and work so that we may continue to exist in peace while making use of the life sustaining energy that our Earth provides for us every day - To optimize our survival.
BEAT received an email from: Melissa Edmonds <medmonds@selcnc.org> of the Southern Environmental Law Center on September 9, 2022 at 12:32:50 PM EDT. The subject of the email was Offshore Drilling Comment Opportunity. BEAT leadership would like to share this message with you here. The text that follows is the body of the message in its entirety.
Hi all,
I hope this note finds you well! You are receiving this email because you have previously been involved in SELC’s campaign to fight offshore drilling, by signing onto our comment letters to oppose drilling in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. I am writing now to alert you of another important comment opportunity on the issue of offshore drilling in these regions.
SELC is currently preparing comments on the Biden administration’s Proposed Five Year Plan for offshore drilling, which removes all Atlantic Planning Areas from consideration, yet still proposes to hold lease sales in the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico. Comments are due Oct. 6. As usual, our comments will be focused on the Gulf and the Southeast; we plan to thank BOEM for listening to the voices of the East Coast by removing the Atlantic, and further urge no new leasing in the Gulf of Mexico because of the continued harm from offshore drilling on Gulf communities and natural resources and on climate change.
SELC supports responsible offshore wind development as a critically important piece in the necessary clean energy transition to address the climate crisis, but we do not support provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act that tie future offshore wind leasing to continued oil and gas leasing. We are planning to make this distinction in our comments, but please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns with this approach.
If you are potentially interested in signing on and have input as we draft, please let me know ASAP, as we are working on drafting the comments now. We will circulate a draft on Sept. 23, accept feedback through Sept. 28, and take final sign-ons through Oct. 5.
Thank you all for being valued partners in this important issue, we look forward to your continued support throughout this fight!
Melissa L. Edmonds (Whaling) (she/her)
Science & Policy Analyst
Southern Environmental Law Center
601 West Rosemary Street, Suite 220
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Office (919) 391-4099
Mobile (919) 623-5003
Dear visitor, below is a message BEAT received from "Emily Donovan via ActionNetwork.org" <info@email.actionnetwork.org>
The subject of her message regards
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED:
Say: "No More Chemours!"
BEAT received this message on: September 10, 2022 at 12:36:12 PM EDT
Her message is shared here in its entiretity.
Friends,
It's time to mobilize like never before. Chemours just announced they want to EXPAND their toxic PFAS production in NC. We don’t feel they’ve earned this right–especially when they’ve failed to deliver on the most basic promises to our community.
We believe the majority of control measures taken, so far, are because Chemours was legally forced to comply via a 2019 consent order established by our friends at Cape Fear River Watch. However, it’s important to remember, consent orders are only as good as they are being enforced. Sadly, strong enforcement of the Chemours consent order has taken constant pressure from dedicated folks like you, who are determined to hold both DEQ and Chemours’ feet to the fire.
Here’s a quick summary of how Chemours has “helped” us:
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They've been dragging their feet on establishing toxicity studies required by the 2019 consent order.
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They have made private well owners wait 6 months with no replacement water.
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They refuse to meet the needs of commissioners in Cumberland County and are now being sued.
Chemours has not earned the right to expand in NC and we are counting on you to help them get the message. Chemours is hosting a public information session at Leland Cultural Arts Center, Wednesday, September 21st from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Click here to RSVP We’ll send you talking points in the next two weeks to help you feel prepared.
In the meantime, please share our event link on social media and with your fellow neighbors. Media will be present at this meeting, so it’s vital that we show a united front against Chemours. We cannot allow them to add another drop of their poison to our water.
With gratitude,
Emily Donovan, cofounder
Clean Cape Fear
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE BEAT LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR the Brunswick County NAACP’s proposed Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Multi-Use Greenway/Blueway Trail, Brunswick County, North Carolina
FYI: An Informative PDF about PFAS as it Relates to Brunswick County in 2020 - by Eugene Rozenbaoum of LG Chem
BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM (BEAT)
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING
(Held at Backstreet Cafe,
1780 Chandlers Lane, Unit 7, Sunset Beach, NC)
October 24, 2017
Members present: Kristen Colleran, Sandy Ford, Dan George, Neil Gilbert, Ted Janes, Dale Todd, Greg Weiss, Dwight Willis
Also in attendance: Teddy Altreuter, Bill Altreuter
The informal meeting/dinner was called to order at 5:30 p.m.by BEAT President Neil Gilbert.
Appreciation was expressed to Steve for his understanding and graciousness regarding the cancellation. Neil presented him with a BEAT t-shirt and made him an honorary BEAT member.
Board members reflected on the necessary postponement of Dr. Cahoon’s presentation, expressed concern for his health, and discussed arrangements for re-scheduling him and for planning future speakers.
Much discussion led to the following proposed upcoming schedule:
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Friday to Sunday (Oct. 27th to 29th) (Wilmington) – Greenpeace Weekend
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Monday, Nov. 6th @ 6:30 p.m. (BEMC) – BEAT Board meeting
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Thursday, Dec. 7th or Monday, Dec. 11th or Tuesday, Dec. 12th @ (TBD) (BEMC) – Dr. Cahoon’s presentation to BEAT membership
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Saturday, Dec. 9th @ (TBD) (OIB/this area- possibly Causeway Gourmet) – Meeting with Grand Strand Action Together
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Mid-December @ (TBD) (location TBD) – BEAT Board meeting; meeting followed by mass mailing to membership summarizing the year announcing committee sign-ups
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January @ (TBD) (BEMC) – General membership meeting
Neil reported on the successful BCC event at his house; Dwight reported on the Cousteau-Hofmeister debate on offshore drilling; Greg reported on the meeting with representatives from Grand Strand Action Together; and Neil, Dwight, and Kristen discussed the Oceana lobbying days (Nov. 14-15) with Congressional representatives.
Encouragement was provided for Board slackers to join Slack; for Board reps to meet with Les Tubbs, Brunswick County Superintendent of Schools about schools’ environmental curriculum; for Greg and Ted to complete the by-laws draft; and to accept invitations to speak at area Newcomers Clubs.
Neil announced progress in committee assignments for Board members and some general members, and everyone expressed intent to get these groups up and running soon (especially the Events Committee).
Those who imbibed offered praise for Neil’s limoncello.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Greg Weiss
Acting Recording Secretary