7/25/25 - Aidan Loretz

Hi you powerful people! I have a couple weekend asks in our fight to keep clean water in North Carolina. There are two upcoming permits to be approved by two separate governing bodies. Both are open for public comments from now until July 28th! Want to voice your opposition? Take about fifteen-twenty minutes, follow the steps below and add your voice.

Our friends at Appalachian Voices have put together a great Toolkit for submitting comments to the Army Corps. They are responsible for approving or denying a 404 permit under the Clean Water Act. There’s a clear guide on what to include in your comment on the Toolkit. Writing not for you? Then give this petition a quick sign! AV’s petition already has 2500 signatures - we’re trying to at least double that number by Monday. Tell your friends and family!
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what to tell the army corps Against the SSEP Pipeline:

The key is to be specific, personal, and clear about why you oppose this permit. You can visit HERE for ALL the details about how to make this comment.

1. Request a Public Hearing

Ask the Army Corps to hold a public hearing and give specific reasons why one is needed:

The 30-day comment period is too short for such a complex project
Important information is missing that the public needs to review properly
People deserve more chances to give meaningful feedback
Some community members prefer to speak their comments rather than write them

2. Ask Them to DENY the Permit

Tell the Army Corps to reject the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit because:

They're rushing the public comment process
The project harms the public interest
It will damage sensitive streams and waterways
There are better alternatives that would cause less environmental damage than cutting through streams

3. Share Your Personal Concerns

Environmental Impacts:

A new study by London Economics shows this pipeline isn't even needed
The project would harm over 2 acres of streams and 20+ acres of wetlands across two districts
It would permanently destroy over 2 acres of forested wetlands

Problems with the Process:

They're asking for public input too early, before all the facts are in
Other agencies are still reviewing information that could affect this decision
They haven't studied the combined impact of this pipeline with the related Mountain Valley Pipeline
They're relying too much on old decisions instead of doing fresh analysis
The comment period should be extended to 60 days

Tips:

Be specific about how this affects you personally
Use your own words alongside these talking points
Mention if you live, work, or recreate in affected areas
Submit your comment before the deadline

NEXT!

Also Comment on the NC State 401 Permit

North Carolina is reviewing their own permit for this same pipeline project. The NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) also needs to approve a "401 certification" before the pipeline can move forward.

How to Submit Your NC Comment:

Go to: https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/401_Public_Notice_Comments
Project number #20240801, version 2
Project title: Southeast Southern Enhancement Project
Type your comment in the box (or upload a file)

What to Include in Your NC Comment:

Request a public hearing - The community deserves a chance to speak directly to state officials
Ask for more time - Request they extend the public comment period
Ask them to deny the project - Tell them to reject the 401 certification
Share your concerns - Use the same environmental and procedural issues mentioned for the Army Corps permit

Why This Matters:

Bottom line: Submit similar comments to both agencies - the Army Corps (federal) and NCDEQ (state). Each agency has the power to block the entire pipeline by denying their respective permits.

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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has their 401 certification application open for comments as well for their 401 permit. Similarly to the Army Corps permit, Go here and type in the project number (#20240801), version 2 then type your comment (and/or upload your file). If making a comment, ask for a public hearing, a longer extension of the public comment period, and denial of the project, etc.

As we continue to monitor the effects of Chantal, it is clear that areas in which the proposed SSEP cuts through, such as Jordan Lake and the Randleman Lake buffer areas, will be heavily impacted by the construction of this pipeline and others like it. Protect our waters, take a stand against more pipelines in our state. Visit nossep.org to learn more about how to get involved. And please, reach out to me for more ways to get involved. We Will Win.

As always, this is Aidan wishing community care, light, and love.

Take care of yourselves and each other,

~ Aidan Loretz (they/them, she/her)

15 Minutes for Clean Water: How You Can Stop Pipeline Permits This Weekend