Published: Monday, June 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM.

A settlement has been reached in a longstanding legal battle that is expected to put nearly 300 acres of undeveloped coastal property to public use as state park land.

As part of the settlement, an appeal before the N.C. Supreme Court has been dismissed, clearing the way for the state to take ownership of the Hammocks property in Swansboro for the expansion of Hammocks Beach State Park.

Carol Tingley, acting director of the state Division of Parks and Recreation, said there are still issues to be resolved regarding the title to the property, but with the settlement the lawsuit ends and the state agrees to pay approximately $10 million for the land.

While there are still additional actions to take and funds to raise, Tingley called the settlement a milestone in efforts to acquire the property.

It will still be a while before it happens but this is a big step and were thrilled to have this opportunity, and were looking forward to incorporating the property into Hammocks Beach State Park for the benefit of the public, she said.

The 289 acres sits along Queens Creek adjacent to Hammocks Beach State Park.

The history of the land dates back to the early 1900s, when Dr. William Sharpe, a neurosurgeon from New York, came to Onslow County and acquired The Hammocks, Bear Island and all the marshlands in between.

Sharpe made John Hurst, the son of a slave, and Hursts wife, Gertrude, caretakers of the hunting and fishing grounds.

A friendship developed between the Sharpe and Hurst families as well as a shared goal of keeping the land in trust for recreational and educational purposes by the N.C. Teachers Association and others. At the time, the organization was an association for black teachers and the property was to be used as a beach resort for its members.

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Settlement reached in expansion of Hammocks Beach State Park

THE NSW Office of Environment and Heritage has confirmed it is investigating reports of illegal land clearing at the Iron Gates site near Evans Head.

In 1997 a legal challenge by the Environmental Defenders Office on behalf of Al Oshlack stopped a controversial subdivision and residential development for 700 houses at the site.

The Land and Environment Court found the breaches of the development consent were so serious the consent was rendered null and void.

In a landmark judgment, the court ordered a full restoration of the site upon which substantial works had taken place.

The company that owned the land, Iron Gates Pty Ltd, is in receivership and liquidator Ross Duus said he was unaware of any change of ownership or land clearing at the site.

Residents reported seeing bulldozers leaving the site recently and smoke from fires in the area.

Aerial photos have now been obtained that seem to show a considerable area has been cleared, with one resident suggesting it could be as much as 10ha.

Mr Oshlack said any work on the site would be a clear breach of the court orders.

"There are restraining orders that remain with the land (regardless of whether ownership has changed) and what has happened here looks to be a deliberate and serious contempt of the court," he said.

Mr Oshlack said the EDO is looking at the evidence to see if there is now a criminal case to be answered.

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Illegal land clearing at Evans Head busted

SINGAPORE, June 10 (Bernama) -- Singapore has offered assistance to Indonesia and Malaysia to combat possible land and forest fires in the run-up to the traditional dry season.

In a statement today, the environment and water resources ministry said this was to prevent another episode of severe transboundary haze from affecting the region.

The assistance is in the form of fire-fighting and planning assistance from Singapore Civil Defence Force, and for cloud-seeding operations.

Transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires during the traditional dry season from June to October has been a perennial problem in the southern Asean region in the past decades.

Illegal land clearing and 'slash and burn' agricultural practices in Indonesia, particularly Sumatra and Kalimantan, have been identified as the main cause of the fire that results in transboundary haze pollution in the region.

Singapore saw its worst haze episode in 2013 when the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit an unprecedented high of 246 on June 20, far exceeding the levels in 1997 (138) and 2006 (128).

Given that there is a possibility of the El Nino weather phenomenon affecting our region this year, the ministry said smoke haze pollution in the region could reach worse levels this year if fires were not promptly stemmed at source.

In past years, Singapore has consistently offered assistance packages to Indonesia to help suppress fires.

Early this year, Singapore was also affected by haze from Peninsular Malaysia.

In March, this year, the 24-hour PSI entered the moderate range and reached a high of 75 on March 12.

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Singapore offers haze assistance to Malaysia, Indonesia

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

SINGAPORE, June 10 (Bernama) -- Singapore has offered assistance to Indonesia and Malaysia to combat possible land and forest fires in the run-up to the traditional dry season.

In a statement today, the environment and water resources ministry said this was to prevent another episode of severe transboundary haze from affecting the region.

The assistance is in the form of fire-fighting and planning assistance from Singapore Civil Defence Force, and for cloud-seeding operations.

Transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires during the traditional dry season from June to October has been a perennial problem in the southern Asean region in the past decades.

Illegal land clearing and 'slash and burn' agricultural practices in Indonesia, particularly Sumatra and Kalimantan, have been identified as the main cause of the fire that results in transboundary haze pollution in the region.

Singapore saw its worst haze episode in 2013 when the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit an unprecedented high of 246 on June 20, far exceeding the levels in 1997 (138) and 2006 (128).

Given that there is a possibility of the El Nino weather phenomenon affecting our region this year, the ministry said smoke haze pollution in the region could reach worse levels this year if fires were not promptly stemmed at source.

In past years, Singapore has consistently offered assistance packages to Indonesia to help suppress fires.

Early this year, Singapore was also affected by haze from Peninsular Malaysia.

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Singapore Offers Haze Assistance Packages To Indonesia, Malaysia

@SinghRPN @Ashtbhuja_Shahi Am well, thank you @milinddeora Eat & drive ok but drink & drive not 😉 "@HuffingtonPost: Heinz & Ford are collaborating on a car made from ketchup http://t.co/gri7uMhrww" @digvijaya_28 Is Greenpeace a threat to National Economic Security ? I don't know. But the least GOI can do is to make IB report public. @thekiranbedi People r demanding return of investment (ROI) for every rupee 'invested' or 'spent'.All in responsible positions must know they r TRUSTEES.. @ajaymaken Even as vested AAP interests create confusion,its reiterated,@INCIndia will NOT be supporting them in Delhi for their diabolical power play. @MPNaveenJindal R.I.P RT "@ibnlive: Assam's popular folk singer Khagen Mahanta dead http://t.co/LmsZKYYRVO" @Panda_Jay My Twitter handle changed yesterday to @PandaJay , please follow that.. @ShashiTharoor @ponmaan especially since I go to the constituency more often than once every fourteen days! @Swamy39 RT @ranganaathan: Bharatiya should realize that @narendramodi & Dr @Swamy39 are two sides of the same coin. Bharatiya @narendramodi Sports brings a spirit of togetherness. Am sure FIFA World Cup will become a bridge to connect nations of the world http://t.co/INLD73Z3Jr @abdullah_omar @rbhaskaran a little white bird told me you were in Kashmir and celebrating your birthday here as well. Happy birthday & have a great trip. @varungandhi80 Shocked to hear about Munde ji's death. He was a wonderful human being and a political giant. @ArvindKejriwal BJP neither able to handle power crisis nor forming govt nor allowing elections in delhi. Completly irresponsible @PMOIndia Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri @yadavakhilesh called on the PM at 7, Race Course Road http://t.co/77e8TlxnOI @rajeev_mp I hve bn a football fan & fan of @LionelMessiLion ths World Cup I bck Messi's #Argentina 2 b world champions! Who r u rooting for? @FIFAcom @quizderek RT @seemagoswami: Those who go from AC homes to AC cars to AC offices and back again should really stop complaining about the effing heat! @ RT @abhineet_kum: Mistry expands Tata's MENA footprint by opening office in Dubai | Business Standard: http://t.co/jOq1pXXrF7 @SushmaSwaraj My speech in Lok Sabha on 11.6.2014 https://t.co/7FyVjDOL2i @arunjaitley Birth Anniversary of Ram Prasad Bismil http://t.co/VuNj6CrQQo @MVENKAIAHNAIDU RT @PrakashJavdekar: Released poster during #WorldEnvironmentDay celebrations in New Delhi http://t.co/VVTyAkozRJ @DVSBJP All d K'taka BJP MPs 2day met Ms.Uma Bharathi, Union Min for Water Resources & submittd a Memo on Cauvery water issue http://t.co/bSHZkNE7xD @umasribharti . , . @AnanthKumar_BJP https://t.co/6cgfuAZiR8 Meeting with Ministers from Karnataka @ ministry office in Shastri Bhavan today... @rsprasad_bjp As the FIFA World Cup-2014 begins, joined @PMOIndia Shri.@narendramodi ji for release of commemorative postage stamp. http://t.co/ldwPTNt0RW @smritiirani I have also spoken to the Principal of the college and assured him of cooperation. Our prayers are with the families in this hour of need. @drharshvardhan World Cup fever epidemic about to start.My personal advisory to football fans- give importance to sleep and don't let TV hurt your eyes. @Gen_VKSingh Just met with the CM of Arunachal Pradesh Mr. Nabam Tuki @NabamtukiINC http://t.co/xpbA9yrw9g @Rao_InderjitS Urge Haryana residents to check their names in Voter list @ http:/ceoharyana.nic.in & get registered if name is not present in the list. @nsitharaman @ajitvadnerkar Thanks for the input. @RSSorg ( 13) 1674

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Bengal govt agrees to help NTPC buy land for Katwa project

Surgical Land Clearing-mowing 30 #39; cane
Mulching 30 #39; cane.

By: John Pierce

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Surgical Land Clearing-mowing 30' cane - Video

Abigail #39;s sacred land clearing.. When the land says thank you
After clearing the land on a bay in koh Paghnan Thailand, Abigail is given a beautiful, enchanting gift from nature as the land days thank you..

By: Abigail Pattman

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Abigail's sacred land clearing.. When the land says thank you - Video

GRIFFITH | Enbridge Energy Partners LLP is cleaning up after last year's construction of its new Line 6B but continuing a flurry of activity in Northwest Indiana.

The Houston-based company plans to soon build a new 79-mile pipeline through Illinois and Northwest Indiana because of the booming crude oil production in North America and the market demand for more pipeline capacity. The new Line 78 will run from an Enbridge terminal near Pontiac in central Illinois to its Hartsdale Terminal on Kennedy Avenue in Schererville, slicing through parts of Will, Cook and Lake counties.

This fall, crews will start clearing a path for the new pipeline, which will run for about five miles in western Lake County. Enbridge also plans to soon start clearing land around its existing Line 62 pipeline in Dyer and Schererville, spokeswoman Jennifer Smith said. The company will remove mostly large trees, but also any brush, sheds or pools that encroach on the utility right of way because of federal regulations that require the land to be left open for maintenance and emergency response.

Installation of the new Line 78 will not affect as many property owners in the area, since it starts to run along existing right of way under overhead power lines when it gets to Crete and then largely runs parallel to train tracks between Sauk Village and Enbridge's terminal in Schererville, Smith said.

The new pipeline will be up to 36 inches in diameter and increase capacity by 570,000 barrels per day.

Enbridge wants to transport more crude oil from Western Canada and the Williston Basin region in North Dakota to regional refineries, including the BP Whiting Refinery. Production in North Dakota has surged to more than 1 million barrels per day, according to the state's industrial commission.

More of that crude oil should start flowing into Schererville midway through 2015. Work is on schedule to start next spring.

Enbridge work crews also will clear trees, shrubs and any structures over the existing Line 62 pipeline, which was built in the 1950s and runs from Cushing,Okla., to the Hartsdale Terminal. The company started clearing brush and trees from the paths of all its pipelinesin 2006 after federal regulations and industry guidelines dictated the land be kept clear. Work crews need room to dig up the pipeline if they ever had to respond to a leak or do maintenance, such as applying a new layer of anti-corrosive coating after a nick or ding to the steel pipe, Smith said.

After starting in Oklahoma and making their way east, workers have cleared about 350 miles so far, and are just now reaching Northwest Indiana. Most of the land they will clearis owned by the town of Schererville, but private property owners will be affected as well.

Schererville residents Pasquale and Connie Capocci learned Enbridge plans to clear 30 feet of right of way from the yard of the homethey bought in the Shady Oaks neighborhood five years ago. They stand to losemature trees that shield their home from a busy street.

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Enbridge building new pipeline, clearing land around current one

Its president, SM Mohamed Idris said the state government should reconsider the approved land reclamation and hill clearing projects to ensure all proposed projects would not affect nature and the people's lives.

"Climate change is one indication of a much larger problem, which is humans' unsustainable consumption, production and lifestyle.

"This is demonstrated by the use of dirty, non-renewable energy, our exploitation of forest and natural ecosystems and our unsustainable development," he told reporters, here, Wednesday.

He said the waste management sector, which was a source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, could become a major contributor to climate change mitigation.

Idris also said the reclamation projects along the coast of Penang such as in Jelutong, Tanjung Tokong and Batu Uban required millions of tonnes of rocks and sand.

"Sand and gravel are mined worldwide and account for the largest volume of solid material extracted globally.

"Our increasing dependence and the significant impact that extraction of natural resources has on the environment, has been mostly ignored," said Idris, who is also the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president.

He hoped for concerted action by all sectors to reduce GHG emissions and combat climate change.

"The needs of vulnerable poor communities must also be addressed so that they can adapt to the impacts of climate change," he said.

Idris said a variety of measures were needed to reduce the growth and impact of these emissions, such as efforts to encourage energy-efficient vehicle technologies, promote efficient patterns of travel and land use, and develop alternatives to petroleum-based fuels.

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Stop Land Reclamation, Hill Clearing Projects To Combat Climate Change

04 June 2014| last updated at 03:39PM

Its president, SM Mohamed Idris said the state government should reconsider the approved land reclamation and hill clearing projects to ensure all proposed projects would not affect nature and the people's lives.

"Climate change is one indication of a much larger problem, which is humans' unsustainable consumption, production and lifestyle.

"This is demonstrated by the use of dirty, non-renewable energy, our exploitation of forest and natural ecosystems and our unsustainable development," he told reporters, here, today.

He said the waste management sector, which was a source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, could become a major contributor to climate change mitigation.

Idris also said the reclamation projects along the coast of Penang such as in Jelutong, Tanjung Tokong and Batu Uban required millions of tonnes of rocks and sand.

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Call on authorities to stop land reclamation, hill clearing to combat climate change