The Legal Battle to protect the Nolichucky River with Patrick Hunter of the SELC

 The Nolichucky River, a cherished resource and lifeline for our community, is under siege. In the rush to rebuild the CSX rail line through the Nolichucky Gorge after Hurricane Helene, ZA Construction’s destructive practices—like dredging the riverbed and demolishing rock formations—are threatening the very ecosystem that gives this river its value. Even more troubling, federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife, and the US Forest Service have either issued permits that violate cornerstone laws like the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act or have failed to enforce their own regulations. Today, we’ll dive into this critical issue with Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in Asheville, who is representing American Whitewater and American Rivers in a legal battle to hold these agencies accountable and protect the Nolichucky for generations to come.

*Please use the resources below to contact the authorities before it's too late!

US Army Corps of Engineers
US Forest Service
US Fish and Wildlife
Google Doc with a list of contacts

unnaturaldisasterpodcast@gmail.com