Continuing the cleanup: Pigeon River slowly bounces back as mill environmental violations mount
Once Pactiv Evergreen’s Canton paper mill shut down for good, people wondered how the Pigeon River and the aquatic life it supports would change.
High bacterial concentrations prompt two new violations for Canton mill
A pair of new environmental violations issued this month brings the total for Canton’s shuttered paper mill up to seven since it closed last June and 22 since May 2021 — an average of 1.3 violations every two months.
Climate plan open for comment
Draft priority measures to reduce greenhouse gases in North Carolina are open for public comment through Sunday, Jan. 28.
Air quality report reveals good news for N.C.
North Carolinians continue to breathe the cleanest air in decades as emissions of harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter reach historic lows, according to the latest update of the “Air Quality Trends in North Carolina” report published by the N.C. Division of Air Quality.
Paper mill logs new violation: Investigation continues into black liquor seep
The now-shuttered paper mill in Canton has received a new violation for exceeding permit limits on toxicity for water released from the plant, continuing a pattern established over the last two years of averaging more than one notice of violation every two months.
‘Hard to believe’: Downstream fish populations explode following mill closure
When the impending closure of Canton’s paper mill was announced in March, conservation professionals predicted a swift improvement in downstream water quality once papermaking stopped.
Pactiv Evergreen accused of illegally dumping chemicals during shutdown
In a notice of violation issued Monday, July 10, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has accused Pactiv Evergreen of dumping chemicals directly into its wastewater treatment system rather than disposing of them properly, as required by the company’s permit.
Plastics everywhere — should we be worried?
A baby whale washed up on a beach. Eighty-eight pounds of plastics were found in its stomach. Should we care?
Event to focus on reducing plastic pollution
A community conversation about reducing plastic pollution will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains in Waynesville.
Microplastics researcher to speak in Highlands
Learn about plastic pollution and the threat it poses to freshwater and marine ecosystems during a free lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Highlands Nature Center in Highlands.
