Environmental Advocates Launch NC Pipeline Watch - CleanTechnica

Environmental advocates in North Carolina have launched the NC Pipeline Watch, a volunteer-driven initiative to monitor the construction of the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) pipeline. The coalition includes groups such as 7 Directions of Service, Clean Water for North Carolina, Yadkin Riverkeeper, Haw River Assembly, and the Sierra Club. Volunteers will observe the pipeline route by foot, boat, and airplane to detect potential environmental violations, spills, or pollution, reporting confirmed issues to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for enforcement. The program provides residents with resources and training to participate in monitoring efforts, aiming to fill gaps left by reduced EPA oversight due to staffing cuts. NC Pipeline Watch draws inspiration from similar volunteer monitoring programs in Virginia and West Virginia, which successfully pressured regulatory agencies to issue violations along the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Advocates emphasize the risk the pipeline construction poses to North Carolina’s waterways and communities, highlighting the importance of grassroots vigilance to protect natural resources, sacred sites, and public health.