I hope everyone can celebrate that across the country, the people of the United States overwhelmingly voted in candidates who will work for a just and sustainable future. Here in North Carolina, Haw River Assembly is committed to working with our General Assembly and local leaders to achieve the greatest protections for our watershed communities. The elections are just a first step. If you voted, now comes the work that goes with it! Below is an action everyone can take and some local good news to celebrate.
The Enbridge Chatham pipeline: comments due December 4
On October 30, Public Service Company of North Carolina (now operating as Enbridge Gas North Carolina) applied to the NC Division of Water Resources for a Section 401 Individual Water Quality Certification for its EGNC Chatham County System Expansion Project. The state issued public notice on November 3.
This permit determines whether the pipeline can cross our streams and wetlands. The project is roughly 28 miles of 12-inch pipe through the Haw River and Cape Fear watersheds. On October 26, North Carolina legislators wrote to NCDEQ asking it to deny the 401 certification over water quality concerns.
Key details
Project number: 20261460 Ver 1 (Chatham County)
Comment deadline: 5 p.m., Friday, December 4, 2026 — also DWR's proposed date of final action
Comment online: the Public Notice Comment Form on DEQ's Individual Certifications public notice page
Comment by mail: 401 Permitting, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Read the application: online at the same page, or in person at the DWR Raleigh Regional Office, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays, by appointment
Here are some points to say in your comments and stay tuned for a detailed comment guide coming soon:
Ask NCDEQ for a public hearing held in Chatham County
Increased sedimentation and deteriorating water conditions for the Haw, Rocky, and Deep Rivers
Potential impacts to Haw River streams: Stinking Creek and Shaddox Creek
Highlight the impacts to the federally endangered fish species, the Cape Fear Shiner. The number of Cape Fear Shiners is so low that even one severe chemical spill or drilling mud leak, as could occur with the Enbridge pipeline, could wipe out the population that has been so carefully nurtured. Current threats that have impacted this Cape Fear Shiner include changes in stream flow, runoff from agriculture, development, and road construction. The Cape Fear Shiner is already impacted by weather-related events, such as hurricanes, flood, drought, which additionally threaten isolated populations.
Visit fightenbridge.org or email team@fightenbridge.org for additional information
And some good news! Guilford County Board of Commissioners passed an 18-Month Data Center Moratorium!
On Thursday, November 5th, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners passed an 18-month moratorium on data centers, which is definitely something to celebrate!! See a photo below and this article from the News & Record with more details.
HUGE SHOUTOUT to everyone who gave comments at and attended the Guilford County Commissioner meetings, and an extra special THANK YOU to the folks who spoke at last night's public hearing!
While we didn't get our ask of 32 months, I hope folks are proud that OUR ADVOCACY led to a longer and stronger moratorium. We increased the length from their initially proposed 6 months to TRIPLE that time! It is clear that our County listens to the people they serve. I hope everyone is proud of what we can achieve when we organize across lines of difference, step into our power, and use our voice to advocate for our communities.
Our County Commissioners received a grade of B+ based on the grading scale we presented them with. Though it's not an A+, it is something to celebrate, as it's greater than average (the average being 12 months based on the moratorium length of municipalities across NC). And it's much better than the mini-moratorium we received from Greensboro City Council.
Thank you to the Guilford County Commissioners, especially Brandon Gray-Hill, Kay Cashion, Mary Beth Murphy, and Carly Cooke, for their championing of our efforts publicly and behind the scenes. Another thank you to the County Staff, especially Heather Schaffer and Leslie Bell, for meeting with members of our coalition, educating the Commissioners, and for the work we expect from them from now until May 5, 2028.
Chair Skip Alston made explicit commitments to public participation during their moratorium process. While we have not seen the updated moratorium, Heather affirmed she will share it with us as soon as possible. We will ensure that public participation, such as an advisory committee and multiple town halls, is explicitly committed to.
