‘We Are Seen as Disposable’: Rural Residents Fight a Proposed Gas Pipeline
Research shows natural gas pipelines — and the public health risks they carry — are concentrated in low-income and minority areas where people suffer higher rates of poverty and physical disabilities and have fewer means to respond to crises.
Chatham County in North Carolina, a county of approximately 85,000 people, is experiencing the impacts of rural population growth as well as the resulting division between wealthy newcomers and long-time residents. The county is one of North Carolina's most affluent, with an influx of new residents in its northeastern corner, leading to a per capita income of around $25,000 in certain communities, half the typical income for the region.
The proposal of a natural gas pipeline by Enbridge Gas North Carolina has sparked controversy, as it would run from Moncure to Siler City, two communities with significantly lower per capita income. This pipeline proposal has raised concerns about the distribution of social and economic resources, as well as potential environmental hazards.
Despite Chatham County's unanimous vote to oppose the project, stating that "protecting public health, safety, environmental resources, and private property rights remains a priority," Enbridge could still attempt to take land through eminent domain. The state Department of Environmental Quality has not yet received the permit application for the pipeline.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
