Environment

The House unanimously approved minor changes made in the Senate to a bill that would require hazardous waste storage companies to tell their neighbors and emergency response officials more about the materials they store. House Bill 36 would also subject such companies to more inspections. The legislation follows an explosion and fire at EQ Industrial Services in Apex on October 9, 2007, that resulted in the evacuation of an estimated 17,000 people. Emergency responders had little information about what the company had stored at the site, limiting their ability to extinguish the blaze. North Carolina has 10 remaining commercial hazardous waste storage warehouses that receive chemicals and other materials from manufacturers and laboratories. The waste is consolidated and then shipped to incinerators, landfills, and recyclers in other states.

Thank you for your continued interest in the activity at the General Assembly. Please keep me informed of your concerns so that together, we can improve the lives of the citizens of Greensboro and Guilford County as well as all North Carolinians.

Cheers,
Pricey