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Blog
North Carolinians can do something simple every day to help get the state’s economy on track – recycle.
A recently completed study by the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach (found online at http://www.p2pays.org/ref/53/52107.pdf) shows that recycling continues to be a driver of economic activity and job growth in North Carolina. Successive studies from 1994 – 2010 have shown consistent increases in recycling employment in the Tar Heel state. And the latest study documents that - despite the deepest recession in decades - recycling jobs in North Carolina grew by nearly five percent in the last two years.
With more than 15,000 people employed statewide and an annual payroll of at least $395 million, the recycling industry is a steady contributor to our state’s overall economic strength and competitiveness.
North Carolina’s “recycling economy” is diverse and dynamic. Our state is home to some of the largest recyclers of steel and plastics in the world, with Nucor’s headquarters in Charlotte and the new Clear Path recycling facility in Fayetteville – an $80 million plant that will recycle 160 million pounds of soda and water bottles each year. Last year we welcomed both the arrival of a major catalytic converter recycler in Morganton and a large-scale computer monitor processing facility in Creedmoor. Unifi, a leading textile producer, also announced in 2010 its intention to consume more plastic bottle-based resin for its Repreve textile line. And on the other end of the spectrum, dozens of small to medium-sized companies in North Carolina made investments last year in new or expanded capacity to recycle everything from pallets to shingles to carpet.
In the meantime, small recycling collection companies are popping up all over the state and they are all looking for new customers. We all know there are considerable environmental reasons to recycle, since using materials over and over again instead of placing them in a deep, dark landfill conserves resources, saves energy and prevents air and water pollution. But the economic reasons to recycle are just as important, especially given our need for employment growth in the state. The jobs study data shows that diverting materials from disposal delivers economic opportunity to thousands of our fellow citizens.
North Carolinians who want to do your part to put folks back on a payroll can help with one simple daily act – recycling.
Who says you can’t protect the environment and be customer-friendly?
At the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, we’re working hard to make sure we do both.
The department’s mission is to protect the state’s natural resources, which are critical for quality of life, economic development and tourism. Our leadership team and our employees understand that we can’t accomplish the mission without the help of all North Carolinians, including those in business and industry.
Last summer, the department’s senior leadership focused its attention on improving customer service.
One way we’ve done that is through convening roundtables of business and industry, local government and environmental leaders. These monthly meetings have enabled healthy communication and helped us gather suggestions for ways we can improve our services to the taxpaying public.
We also finished a review of our environmental regulatory process with an eye on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our permitting.
This review included a survey of internal permitting staff and of members of our environmental roundtables. The recommendations that came out of this internal review include a need for:
• Technology improvements, such as digital documents and data-sharing among programs and the public.
• Clearer policies and procedures to improve the consistency and reliability of permitting decisions, including ensuring that rules and guidance are easily accessible to the public.
• Training for both staff and permit applicants to improve permitting effectiveness and timeliness.
• Improving our management of staff, including evaluating programs to highlight any review redundancies and providing cross-training.
• Improving communication and customer service in the areas of delegation of authority and the systematic review and adjustment, where needed, of permit fees.
Senior leadership at DENR is currently reviewing these recommendations, and will make changes where practical, feasible and pragmatic. Please know that employees within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are working hard to meet the high expectations required by public service as we work together with our residents to secure the future of a clean environment, sustained natural resources, healthier lives, thriving ecosystems and a stronger economy.
We have good reason to be optimistic about our state’s economic and environmental outlook, thanks to numerous projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
More than 1,220 jobs have been created in North Carolina with economic recovery money administered by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
People are going back to work on projects that will improve drinking water, reduce diesel engine emissions, clean up scores of contaminated sites, restore oyster habitats and improve our forests.
One such project I’ve been particularly impressed with involves restoring longleaf pines at Bladen Lakes State Forest. This week, I joined state Sen. Margaret Dickson and state Rep. William Brisson, Bladen County officials and others on a tour of the forest led by the N.C. Division of Forest Resources.
We saw some of the 500-plus acres of longleaf pine seedlings already planted by the seven employees and additional contractors hired for the job. The workers are planting pine seedlings and using chainsaws, brush saws and prescribed burning to remove competing understory vegetation.
By reestablishing longleaf pines, we aim to return the largest state-owned forest to its natural ecosystem filled with a tree species capable of withstanding raging wildfires and providing an ideal habitat for the red cockaded woodpecker and other endangered species.
To learn more, go to www.enr.state.nc.us and click on the “NCDENR American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” link under Current Events.
Lumber River State Park in Robeson and Columbus counties has garnered national attention, becoming an overnight contender in a promotion by Coca-Cola for a $100,000 grant.
The competition in the “America is Your Park” campaign is based solely on online voting, with people being asked to vote – as many times as they like – for a favorite state or national park. Spurred by local tourism officials, Lumber River State Park surged ahead of other North Carolina state parks in early voting, and moved into 10th place (among 3,853 national and state parks) with more than 22,000 votes.
Based on that showing, the state parks system asked all of its supporters to help Lumber River’s quest, primarily using social media including Facebook and Twitter. Votes will be tallied through Aug. 31 at the website: www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks
We hope that consolidating our efforts and choosing Lumber River as the most likely candidate from the state will bring deserved national attention to all of North Carolina’s state parks. We had 14 million visitors to our state parks system last year, and that many supporters can make a difference once they spread the word.
The Lumberton Visitors Bureau launched a similar online campaign earlier this year, collecting enough votes to have the Lumber River named one of the state’s top 10 natural wonders by Land for Tomorrow, a coalition of conservation organizations. An 81-mile stretch of the Lumber is designated a National Wild and Scenic River. The 9,239-acre park features the blackwater river surrounded by floodplain forests, making it a big draw for paddlers and birders.
The $100,000 grant is to be used for new activity equipment, such as bikes and kayaks, or for the restoration and construction of park facilities.
Bob and I have spent much of this week visiting small Western North Carolina towns in Buncombe, Madison, Yancey and Mitchell counties. We visited small businesses, restaurants and county courthouses while talking to local officials and regular people about their concerns and what they believe my priorities should be for state government.
We’ve met hundreds of people and seen dozens of sights in the last few days, but a few in particular stick out.
 We stopped to view the construction of Highway 19E – a collaborative project between DOT and DENR to create a green highway that is now in the application process to become a scenic byway. The locals were excited about the project because it will be the first four lane highway to Yancey County and that means more business, tourism and ultimately jobs for the folks here.
I remember Mr. Candler in Mars Hill. His ‘‘knowledge college’’ was a great place for the old-timers to hang out and swap stories about the good ole days and he was proud to show me his wedding photo from 53 years ago.
Finally, I was very excited about visiting EnergyXchange in Burnsville. EnergyXchange has created a viable industry out of capturing methane gas from an old landfill. They have turned the energy into fuel for a studio for glass artists and they grow food in their greenhouse. The ability to use alternative energy and convert it into a sustainable business is a model for the nation. I’m proud they call North Carolina home.
Bob and I are going to more Western North Carolina towns later this week and I’ll have plenty more stories to share.
When we created Celebrate North Carolina last year, we knew there were so many places and wonderful people in our state to appreciate and enjoy. What we hadn’t realized is that much of it was literally the land right under our feet.
In 1916, North Carolina became the first state in the southeast and one of the first in the nation to establish a state park (at Mt. Mitchell). Since then we’ve secured more than 200,000 acres to protect and enjoy.
This weekend we celebrate our state parks! July 23-25, at parks and recreation areas from the peaks of Mt. Mitchell to the sands of Jockey’s Ridge, park rangers will be offering a wide variety of free and fun programs. Kayaking, hikes, and great environmental education like “Turtle Talk” or “Backyard Pharmacy” are among the hundreds of offerings.
We invite you and your family to visit a state park near you, “to take a closer look,” and to share in the wonder and beauty of North Carolina.
Visit www.celebrate.nc.gov for a complete list of activities.
This Thursday, July 15, western North Carolina has the honor of hosting one of President Obama’s “Great Outdoors Listening Sessions." In April of this year, the President established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. The president directed federal agencies to hold listening sessions to hear ideas, success stories and concerns from interested citizens.
Over the years, Governor Perdue has been front and center in leading and participating in conservation and outdoor recreation efforts in order to promote land and water use and protection, while simultaneously promoting economic development and jobs. She was instrumental during her terms in the state Senate in developing the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and continues to lead the charge for funding this remarkable entity.
Her leadership in bringing together those with conservation expertise and fiscal management experience will be a model example used during this Thursday’s Listening Session.
Members of the Governor’s Office, myself included, are working with leaders in the conservation and recreation community and other outdoor organizations in preparation for this event. We hope you will join us in this day of discussion of land conservation, recreation and reconnecting Americans to the great outdoors.
When: Thursday, July 15, 1 pm to 4 pm
Where: Asheville-Buncombe County Technical Institute; Asheville Campus, 340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801
Who: Representatives from the U.S. Interior and Agriculture departments, Environmental Protection Agency and Council on Environmental Quality will participate.
To Register: This event is free and open to the public. You are encouraged to pre-register by sending an e-mail to Teresa Lovelace (Teresa_Lovelace@nps.gov). Include with your email your name, organization, and primary area of interest:
1. Working land, open space, and landscape conservation
2. Outdoor recreation
3. Youth engagement and environmental education
4. General discussion
We hope to see you on Thursday!
There was drama on the high seas yesterday in Morehead City, where three employees in the Division of Environmental Health, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, rescued two capsized boaters.
It occurred mid-morning when the sailboat, carrying two boaters, capsized because of strong currents and winds near the Marine Fisheries dock. The boaters were hanging onto their boat that was pinned between dock pillars.
At the same time, staff from the Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section happened to be on the other side of the dock returning from pulling daily water and shellfish samples. A television station was interviewing staff and captured the rescue on tape.
The staff – Paul Moore, Timmy Moore, and Phil Piner – recognized that the boaters were in trouble and used their quick wits to maneuver their boat to pull the boaters to safety. I am proud and thankful that our staff so willingly went to the aid of the boaters and that potential tragedy was avoided.
There are many unsung heroes at DENR, but the actions of our staff today in Morehead City were caught on tape. If you wish to view the tape and a news story about the rescue, please visit http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/97076919.html.
It’s a hot job trying to keep state offices cool – or at least, reasonably comfortable – when temperatures and humidity hit and stay near record-breaking levels.
The Division of Facility Management is assigned this daunting task. We have more than a dozen employees dedicated to maintaining the chilled water systems that helps cool 5 million-plus square feet of facilities in the Downtown State Government Complex, as well as respond to service calls from locations where a chiller is not supplying adequate relief.
Much like street crews that try their best to keep roads clear with limited resources during a snow or ice storm, Facility Management is striving to maximize use of a small crew to keep the chillers working at capacity in extreme conditions. If you think your office is warm, try to imagine how challenging it is for technicians to maintain active systems and make repairs in cramped spaces.
Our crews will remain vigilant as we experience the extreme heat and humidity forecast for this week, as we do in responding to facility maintenance needs throughout the year.
Dale Fields (left) and Alan Benson rewire a 100 horsepower motor that moves cool air to the lobby area of the Museum of History
The creatures living in the North Carolina Zoo’s newest attraction came all the way from Africa to Asheboro.
I’m speaking of the eight lemurs that now call the zoo home. On Friday, I joined my colleagues at the North Carolina Zoo as well as legislators, zoo friends and the media for the official dedication of Lemur Island.
The boulder-filled outcropping loaded with climbing trees and surrounded by water is home to six ring-tailed and two red ruffed lemurs.
Lemurs live only in Madagascar, an island country about the size of California that sits east of Africa. They are the oldest primates, evolving even before monkeys, apes or humans. Like many species, they are endangered as their island home is threatened by rampant deforestation. In bringing them here, we hope people will enjoy them and learn a little about the importance of protecting these rare creatures.
Lemur Island promises to be a big draw, judging from the throng of people who migrated Friday to the zoo’s Africa section for a glimpse of the cute creatures. Perhaps people were drawn to their acrobatics. Lemurs love to entertain, swinging from the trees, wrestling or just grooming each other. Or it may be the fact that lemurs love to socialize and be seen, similar to people.
As I saw the lemurs, I was reminded about what makes the North Carolina Zoo one of the state’s best places to visit. Where else can you travel less than a day and still visit animals from half a world away?
You can learn more at the North Carolina Zoo’s official website, www.nczoo.org.
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