Library

This NASA satellite image of North Carolina's coast shows water discolored by excess soils, sediments, decaying leaves, pollution and other debris after Hurricane Florence.
(Photo Courtesy of Joshua Stevens / NASA)

Article September 21, 2018

Hurricane Florence Brings Another Hog Waste Flood to North Carolina

Mixed in with the hurricane's floodwaters are the contents of huge pits filled with pig poop.

These North Carolina coal power plants and coal ash storage pits were flooded during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The flooding potential for Hurricane Florence is even higher and more widespread.
(Photo Courtesy of Waterkeeper Alliance)

Article September 17, 2018

Why Hurricane Florence Could Become a Public Health Crisis

In the path of the storm are giant pits filled with coal ash, lagoons swirling with hog manure, Superfund sites and industrial facilities stocked with toxic chemicals.

Coal ash spilled by Hurricane Florence coats a turtle in Cape Fear River, North Carolina. (Riverkeepers cleaned and released the turtle.)
(Pete Harrison / Earthjustice)

Article September 21, 2018

Along With Flooding, Hurricane Florence Unleashes Toxic Coal Ash

The coal industry dumped its toxic waste in the cheapest way possible. Now coal ash pits are leaking and spilling amid flooding from Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7:15a.m. ET, Sept. 14, as a Category 1 storm. The GOES East satellite captured this geocolor image of the massive storm at 7:45a.m. ET, shortly after it moved ashore.
(NOAA)

Press Release September 14, 2018

Earthjustice Statement on Devastating Hurricane Florence

Earthjustice VP calls on federal gov’t and state to utilize all available resources to help communities

The Cheswick Generating Station operated next door to homes in Springdale, Penn., for more than 50 years until it finally closed in 2022. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)

feature July 19, 2024

We’re Still Cleaning Up the Trump Administration’s Environmental Messes

Earthjustice successfully blocked much damage, and we’ve seen progress toward repair under the Biden administration. But we will never recover some of what was lost.

Map of smog air pollution by county in 2022. (Air Quality System Data / U.S. EPA)

feature November 29, 2023

What’s the state of smog pollution where you live?

Search by county to see the level of smog pollution in the air. Smog can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart and lung diseases.

Map of soot air pollution by county in 2022. (Air Quality System Data / U.S. EPA)

feature November 29, 2023

What’s the state of soot pollution where you live?

Search by county to see the level of soot pollution in the air. Soot causes death and serious health harms.

FirstEnergy's Little Blue Run coal ash impoundment, built in 1975 and containing coal ash from the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant, is the largest unlined coal ash pond in the United States, spanning Pennsylvania and West Virginia. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)

feature May 3, 2023

Toxic Coal Ash in Pennsylvania: Addressing Coal Plants’ Hazardous Legacy

Coal ash is leaching unsafe levels of toxic pollutants into groundwater at 91% of coal plants. Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s top coal ash-generating states, with more than 67 coal ash dumpsites.

During Hurricane Florence, concentrated animal feeding operations like this one in Warsaw, North Carolina, flooded the surrounding community with hog waste.
(Justin Cook for Earthjustice)

Article January 9, 2019

The Storm Moved on, But North Carolina’s Hog Waste Didn’t

Earthjustice and our partners are working to prevent future hog waste floods in the area hit hardest by Hurricane Florence.

Speakers at the listening session held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2018.
(Martin do Nascimento / Earthjustice)

feature June 13, 2023

Guide to Preparing for Public Hearings on the Legacy CCR Rule

What to expect at EPA’s virtual and in-person hearings on the Legacy CCR Surface Impoundment Rule

Volunteers collect water samples, as miles of the Dan River in North Carolina were contaminated with toxic coal ash after the collapse of a coal ash impoundment at Duke Energy's Dan River Steam Station in 2014. (Appalachian Voices)

feature May 3, 2023

Toxic Coal Ash in North Carolina: Addressing Coal Plants’ Hazardous Legacy

Coal ash is leaching unsafe levels of toxic pollutants into groundwater at 91% of coal plants. North Carolina has 47 coal ash dumpsites.

Summer tomato harvest at Harlem Grown, an Earthjustice partner and New York City-based community organization working to increase access to and knowledge of healthful food.
(Sorangel Arlyn Liriano / Earthjustice)

feature October 28, 2022

Climate, Land, Food, Bodies

Alongside our partners, Earthjustice is working to reform the food and farming system, driving the transition from current industrial practices, which churn out unhealthy food and substantial quantities of pollution, to a new model that prioritizes the sustainable production of nutritious food.