To the editor:

When Duke Energy announced its shocking proposal to build a massive, 45-mile long transmission line across the mountains and foothills of the Carolinas, one of the first elected officials (federal, state and local) to speak out against it was Representative Doug Brannon. He immediately saw the destructive economic and environmental impacts of the proposal and was one of the key leaders in the campaign that ultimately convinced Duke Energy to withdraw it.

Once again Rep. Brannon has stood up for us. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, he voted last week against an amendment to the South Carolina Pollution Control Act that would eviscerate the so-called “citizen suit” provision of the law.

This provision gives local citizens the ability to protect the clean air and clean water in their communities when government agencies fail or refuse to take action against illegal pollution. The main purpose of the Pollution Control Act is exactly that—to control pollution. As Rep. Brannon recognizes, citizens should be welcomed, not shunned, in seeking to achieve that purpose.

Regrettably, the committee approved the amendment, and it will probably be considered by the full House next week.

Please join us in thanking Rep. Brannon for again doing the right thing and for standing up for us. And please urge your representatives in the House to vote against the bill (S. 229).

~Frank Holleman, president of Naturaland Trust  and Brad Wyche, senior advisor and former executive director of Upstate Forever