North Carolina

North Carolina politicians question EPA on approval of GenX waste imported to Chemours

Published

1 year ago

November 16, 2023

North Carolina politicians question EPA on approval of GenX waste imported to Chemours

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – North Carolina Congress members are questioning the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of four million pounds of GenX waste being imported to Chemours Fayetteville Works Plant.

The agency paused the approval last week.

In a statement, the EPA said “In response to recent concerns expressed by stakeholders including the state of North Carolina and Brunswick County, EPA reached out to Chemours requesting a pause on import of non-hazardous waste from the Netherlands to its Fayetteville, North Carolina facility. EPA takes these concerns seriously and will review the notices that the company has provided to ensure the public remains safe. EPA has been informed that no shipments have taken place in 2023 and none are currently enroute from the Netherlands to North Carolina.”

Senator Thom Tillis, Representative David Rouzer and Representative Richard Hudson wrote a letter asking the head of the EPA six questions, giving him until the end of November to respond.

The six questions are the following:

Since its creation in 2005, how many import shipments of GenX waste has the EPA approved and at what levels?
What quantity of imported GenX waste material does the EPA consider permissible and how are these levels determined?
Did the EPA consider the impacts of the recycling and recovery process Chemours is conducting with the GenX waste prior to providing consent?
Given the NCDEQ Consent agreement with Chemours, has EPA modified their process for allowing imports of GenX waste?
Given the aforementioned EPA action on GenX, has EPA modified their process for approving imports of GenX waste?
What efforts has your agency taken to support the State of North Carolina in mitigating the presence of GenX beyond the mandates of the Consent Agreement?

The current head of the EPA is Michael Regan, who used to be the secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality.

“I did support the EPA director Michael’s nomination,” Tillis said. “He had a great reputation back in the state – this could be a miss. I mean he is the head of the EPA. It could be that he’s not intimately involved in this. You’d think somebody who’s in the decision loop would remember he’s from North Carolina and he’s done a lot of work on this area.”

Tillis says he mostly wants to know why the EPA is pausing the approval, but one advocacy group says they need to rescind the approval altogether.

“I don’t know if in this review we’re talking about chemical science or political science. The most fundamental question is what’s changed?” Tillis said. “A lot of it has to do with concern. Concern with the decision to begin with and then a lack of communication ahead of time.”

The purpose of the letter according to Tillis is to improve the EPA’s communication in the long term, but he does not believe the pause on the approval will become a total reversal.

“We’ve got to do better in the future. And we’ve got a lot of work to do to communicate what exactly led to this approval,” Tillis said. “It sounds like to me a decision’s been made. I doubt seriously there’s going to be any reversal in the decision.”

Executive Director Dana Sargent of Cape Fear River Watch says the EPA is going back on its word.

“This is PFAs entering the environment, this goes against everything the EPA has said they’re committing to doing,” Sargent said. “Those questions were polite and I appreciate that they sent the letter, but the EPA just needs to say ‘You know what, we messed up, we’re not going to allow this.’”

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North Carolina

2024 photo galleries: Businesses hit hard by Helene in Western North Carolina

Published

7 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

2024 photo galleries: Businesses hit hard by Helene in Western North Carolina

Businesses in Western North Carolina took a hit after Helene hit on Sept. 27, causing unemployment to skyrocket. For example, before Helene, only around 5,000 were unemployed in the Buncombe County, but after the storm over 13,000 people out of work, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Fraser fir farmers

Christmas Cottage

Asheville Tea Company

River Arts District

Ellaberry Llama Farm

Corner Kitchen

Zillicoah Beer Co.

Asheville breweries

US Reps. tour Asheville’s River Arts District

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

16 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 8-0-0, Fireball: 3

Evening: 7-3-2, Fireball: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 9-0-3-0, Fireball: 7

Evening: 9-3-8-4, Fireball: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

03-09-28-39-40

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-11-15-18-22

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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North Carolina

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour on Monday.

The event offered visitors a unique opportunity to pose for photos with Santa and interact closely with the farm’s animals.

The farm also featured a large mailbox for children to send their letters to Santa. Luanna Baldwin, a mother from Canton, expressed her delight with the experience.

“This was a great outing to take the girls for some Christmas magic,” Baldwin said. “They’ve been asking to see Santa, write a letter specifically, so that was super fun.”

At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour, which concluded on Monday, Dec. 23.

WLOS via CNN Newsource

In addition to the alpacas, the tour allowed guests to feed and pet various other farm animals. Farm Manager Ashley Edwards highlighted the joy the event brings to visitors of all ages.

“We have people come in who are in their 60s, 70s, and above who have never touched a chicken before, and I’m able to provide that kind of happiness to their hearts to their soul, and I think it’s great,” Edwards said. “This is a memory people aren’t going to forget.”

Winchester Creek Farm has been hosting the Santa Tours for the past six years. Although this year’s event has ended, the farm offers tours throughout the year.

Winchester Creek Farm operates as a year-round working farm, raising animals primarily for the fiber produced by their coats.

SEE ALSO | Schools closed for winter break: Family fun things to do

Featured video is ABC11 24/7 Livestream

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