enforcement

We work hard to advocate for stronger environmental laws to be passed by our State Legislature, but they are only effective if they are adequately enforced, and polluters are held accountable for ignoring the law.

CCNC Foundation has prioritized environmental enforcement issues--at the Legislature, through our partnerships with other organizations, working directly with state agencies who enforce the laws, and through public education. 

North Carolina has long underfunded the compliance and enforcement divisions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), often allowing violators to go unnoticed and unpunished.  Cases from around the state provide examples of water and air pollution threatening our natural resources---and our public health---for months and years without clean up. From lack of funding and inadequate staff, to a failure of political support for strong environmental enforcement, our See No Evil report highlights some of the ongoing issues which hinder effective enforcement of our existing laws.

We have partnered with Riverkeepers across the state on a grassroots effort to address the number one pollution source in our rivers -- sedimentation.  The Muddy Water Watch Campaign works to mobilize, educate, and develop policy recommendations to bring to the Legislature or other policy making bodies. 

We also work closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to inform and improve their enforcement programs, and support both administrative and legislative advocacy efforts to improve existing enforcement programs. 

Coming Soon! Repeat Violator Data

Repeat violators are polluters who have violated either their water, air or sedimentation permits two or more times within a five year period. Under the current system, there are no adverse consequences for those permit holders who continuously violate the terms of their permit. CCNC Foundation has worked with DENR to compile enforcement records and present the public with information on repeat violators. Detailed information on repeat violators and their offenses is coming soon. In addition, this information will be categorized by legislative district, so citizens can identify which politicians are supporting repeat violators, and which are supporting the environment.