Environment Action Team 

April 2026 News - Once Again Advocacy Needed on PFASThe NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is seeking comments on proposed rules covering PFAS discharges. Over 3.5 million people in NC drink water with unsafe levels of PFAS.

n 2024 NC DEQ proposed water quality standards limiting the amount of 8 PFAS chemicals that industries and wastewater treatment plants could dump into our rivers. EMC blocked these rules after pushback from dischargers. Instead, EMC ordered DEQ to adopt polluter-written rules which will do nothing. The rules would require monitoring of PFOA, PFOS and GenX in discharges from certain facilities but with no consequences even if they increase their discharges. Facilities must develop plans to minimize discharges with no requirements to implement them.

Tell EMC that these rules must be changed! The rules must reduce PFAS discharges—these will not. We deserve rules that protect people’s health not polluters’ profits. Please email written comments to [email protected] with the subject line “PFAS minimization.”

​The public comment period runs through June 15th. There will be a hearing on April 23rd at 6pm at Wilmington City Hall Skyline Center, 1st Floor Conference Center. We need a big turnout! Please contact Beth Hansen if you have questions.

LWVLCF Webinar May 16, 2022 Over Exposed & Under Studied: The Fight to Understand Our PFAS Exposures & What It Means for Our Long-Term Health 

​​LWVLCF webinar January 19, 2022:  The Opportunity for  Offshore Wind in NC presented by Co-founding members of the Offshore Wind for North Carolina Coalition, Greg Andeck of Audubon North Carolina and Jaime Simmons of the Southeastern Wind Coalition

​Environment Action Team webinar March 17, 2021:  Hog Industry of Southeast NC presented by Dr. Len Bull 

​LWVLCF webinar December 2, 2020:  2021 Environmental Challenges and Opportunities in NC presented by Lisa Sorg, NC Policy Watch Environmental Reporter 

About Us
The purpose of the Environment Action Team is to monitor local, regional, and state environmental issues and act when needed.  We educate our members and others on key issues and coordinate advocacy.  We partner with local and state environmental organizations to share their expertise with our members and to identify issues needing advocacy.
 
Our current focus areas are climate change, air and water quality, and responsible development. We encourage clean energy action by our local governments and the state. We support increased use of renewables by Duke Energy.  Key water and air quality issues include PFAS and factory farm animal waste. We support environmentally responsible, resilient local development. Environmental justice helps inform our advocacy.   ​
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Contact Beth Hansen or Sharon Valentine

Goals 

  • Advocate for environmentally and economically responsible development in the Lower Cape Fear region.  
    • Continue our study of flooding and stormwater management in our local communities and identify opportunities for advocacy.
    • Advocate for local government zoning that more accurately reflects the likelihood of flooding by considering additional factors such as soil type and water table.  
    • Monitor proposed development in wetland soils and advocate when needed.   
    • Advocate for expenditures to protect vulnerable low-income communities from flooding.  
  • Advocate for more statewide clean energy. 
  • Support local environmental justice initiatives.  
  • Respond to local and regional environmental issues as they arise to support partner organizations.

Partners

Cape Fear River Watch    www.capefearriverwatch.org
 
NC Coastal Federation www.nccoast.org

The Environmental Action Team meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 10am

We welcome visitors and new members. 
Would you like further information?  Add your name to email list? 
Contact Beth Hansen, Chair, or Sharon Valentine, Vice-Chair.

Position Statements

​Climate Resilience

The LWVLCF supports building equitable climate resilience in the state and in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties so that our communities continue to thrive.  Climate resilience is the ability to adapt to, prepare for, and recover from the impacts of climate change.  Climate change impacts of special concern locally include sea level rise and increased intensity and frequency of precipitation which place lives, health, property, prosperity, and quality of life at risk.  All three counties border the Atlantic Ocean and are composed predominately of low-lying, flat terrain susceptible to flooding.  We support state and local policies, plans, and actions that are consistent with the best available climate science and that enhance climate resiliency through adaptation, mitigation, and recovery preparation.  We support zoning, stormwater ordinances, floodplain regulations, and building codes that proactively address evolving climate risks. We support adequate resources for maintaining and improving stormwater infrastructure and increased use of nature-based solutions including preserving wetlands.  
 
This position is supported by the LWVUS Climate Change Position. 

LWVUS Climate Change Position adopted 2019:
The League believes that climate change is a serious threat facing our nation and planet. The League believes that an international approach to combating climate change — including through energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resilience, and promotion of renewable resources — is necessary to protect public health and defend the overall integrity of the global ecosystem. The League supports climate goals and policies that are consistent with the best available climate science and that will ensure a stable climate system for future generations. Individuals, communities, and governments must continue to address this issue, while considering the ramifications of their decisions, at all levels — local, state, regional, national, and global.  

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Point Peter

The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear opposes any major development at Point Peter.  Point Peter and the access to this site are in an active FEMA designated flood plain with wetland soils and are currently very vulnerable to high tide flooding and flooding from storm events, with sea level rise increasing the risk. It would be irresponsible for New Hanover County to approve a major development at a site vulnerable to flooding requiring taxpayer assistance for infrastructure repair when our community needs to spend considerable taxpayer resources on the resiliency of existing development.    

Offshore Wind

The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear (LWVLCF) supports offshore wind energy that is sited and operated in an environmentally and economically responsible manner as an important component of North Carolina’s transition to clean energy. The clean energy transition is essential to fight the harmful effects of climate change.  Offshore wind is a large-scale, clean, renewable resource that produces consistent and reliable electricity to compliment other renewable resources.  A strong commitment to offshore wind will grow our economy through manufacturing supply chain investments in addition to construction and operations jobs.