environment

RALEIGH — North Carolina could tally in 2009 the lowest number of high-ozone days of any year on record if current trends continue. That’s a key finding in a new…

In 2008 the EPA dramatically tightened its standards for defining a high ozone day. Even under EPA’s more stringent new standard, North Carolina — both as a whole and within its major regions — has experienced significant reductions in the number of high ozone days.

North Carolina may for the first time begin regulating emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), an invisible, odorless gas prevalent in almost every sector of the economy and also vital to human health. The Environmental Management Commission, a state commission that adopts environmental regulations, is considering regulations that would mandate certain facilities to report their CO2 emissions. These regulations would lay the groundwork for far costlier CO2 regulations.

RALEIGH – Despite record high temperatures, North Carolina’s major metropolitan areas are experiencing a third straight year of low ozone pollution, according to a new analysis published by the John…

Despite record high temperatures during the month of July, North Carolina’s metropolitan areas are experiencing a third straight year of relatively few high ozone days. Unfortunately good news doesn’t sell and there are some “environmental advocates” in the state who seem intent on sounding the alarm bells regardless of the facts.

RALEIGH – As the North Carolina General Assembly considers a bill to create the South’s first state commission on climate change, a leading expert on the issue will be in…

RALEIGH – The mission of the General Assembly’s proposed commission on global climate change can best be accomplished by soliciting a wide variety of expert opinions on the science and…

Once again, the American Lung Association's annual “State of the Air” report misleads the public by exaggerating the data and issuing “grades” meant more to scare than to inform. The ALA claims up to 900 percent more high-ozone days than actually occurred and gives F grades to counties that are having no problem meeting EPA guidelines.

Just as North Carolina was on the verge of full compliance with EPA’s original ozone air pollution requirements, the standards were changed. In April 2004, most of the state once again was out of compliance. Policymakers and business leaders worry whether the state can meet the new federal requirements and avoid imposed limits on economic development and loss of federal transportation funds.

RALEIGH — As the American Lung Association prepares to release its annual State of the Air report, including county rankings that often receive significant media attention, a new study from…