Today the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove North Carolina’s authority to enforce the Clean Water Act (CWA). SELC filed the petition on behalf of Cape Fear River Watch, Environmental Justice Community Action Network, Haw River Assembly, and MountainTrue.

The petition argues that North Carolina’s General Assembly has systematically undermined the State’s ability to adequately enforce the CWA. They document the underfunding of agencies tasked with enforcement and the creation of new bureaucratic hurdles to block protective standards for toxins including PFAS. If successful, the petition would either require the General Assembly to correct the deficiencies or cede regulatory authority back to the federal government. 

The EPA has 90 days to respond.

Find the full press release and petition here.