What's Up With the NC Science Panel

In response to Chemours' contamination of the drinking water supply for nearly 300,000 North Carolinians, Gov. Cooper expanded the scope of the state's science panel, previously associated with just the Dpt. of Environmental Quality, to add the Department of Health and Human Services and update the charter to address the immediate needs of the state. 

The charter for the panel -- which designated a name-change from the Secretary's Science Advisory Board on Toxic Air Pollutants to the Secretaries' Science Advisory Board -- was  signed by both secretaries of DEQ and DHHS July 28.

The new charter expands the board from eight to 11 voting members and will include, among other experts, two PhD toxicologist, one PhD epidemiologist, one board-certified physician, one PhD water contamination expert, and one PhD air contamination expert.

Duties of panel members include: assisting DEQ and DHHS in identifying and evaluating contaminants of emerging concern; consulting DEQ in determinations to regulate contaminant discharges; recommending or conducting reviews of contaminants released to the environment; and providing expertise on human and environmental impacts of exposure to hazardous contaminants. The new charter can be read HERE.

SIGN THIS PETITION SO WE CAN CONVINCE OUR LEADERS TO SUPPORT MODEST FUNDING TO GIVE DEQ/DHHS THE STAFF THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR BODIES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY!!!