The federation was formed by Todd Miller, its executive director and first staff member, in response to threats from the peat mining industry. Todd ran the organization out of his house in Ocean in Carteret County.
1983
The federation worked with fishermen in Onslow County to halt construction of condominiums on Permuda Island in Stump Sound. The state denied the permits three years later and the island is now publicly owned as a natural and historic estuary preserve.
With fishermen, environmentalists, scientists and citizens, the federation rallied to oppose peat mining of wetlands (photo right) between the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. This movement gained national attention, including coverage on the CBS Evening News and PBS's MacNeil-Lehrer Report.
1984
The Peat Methanol Associates proposal to mine peat was defeated. Those wetlands formerly targeted for peat mining are now mostly preserved as national wildlife refuges.
1985
A successful lawsuit was filed against the state for permitting a marina and condominiums on Hoop Pole Creek in Atlantic Beach. Eleven years later, the federation bought the property adjacent to open shellfishing. It is now permanently protected.
With three other groups, the federation filed a lawsuit against the N.C. Environmental Management Commission asking that three proposed Bogue Banks shopping centers require permits to discharge stormwater into Bogue Sound. Pressure eventually led to the state's adoption of more effective rules.
1986
The federation mobilized citizen support for the Division of Environmental Management's proposed stormwater runoff rules.
1987
With encouragement from the federation, Congress designated the estuaries of the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds as “National Concerns.” This designation led to the creation of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study (APES).
The federation began working to ensure active citizen involvement and preparation in the APES Conservation Management Plan.
1988
In partnership with other environmental groups, the federation filed a federal lawsuit over the failure of the Army Corps of Engineers to protect 404 wetlands.
1989
Todd Miller, federation's executive director, accepted an invitation from Congress to testify at its water quality hearings.
The federation analyzed pollution from Texas Gulf Chemical Co. in Aurora and found that discharges from the company's phosphate mining operation did not conform to federal standards. The company installed an innovative waste recycling system that dramatically reduced phosphorus and fluoride discharges to the river.
The federation participated in public hearings on the environmental impact study prepared for Mobil Corporation's oil drilling exploration plan.
