| North Carolina Does Not Track Lands Submerged Under Navigable Rivers or Know the Extent of Private Claims (January 2013) 2013-02
The Department of Administration (DOA) is charged with managing and controlling the State's submerged lands. DOA does not have a comprehensive inventory of lands submerged under navigable rivers, so the extent to which private parties may hold title to these lands is unknown. Whereas DOA grants and tracks certain types of easements, it does not require easements for many structures built on lands submerged under navigable rivers and does not exercise its authority to lease or convey mineral deposits for most mining on submerged lands. The General Assembly could consider requiring DOA to improve its management and tracking of submerged lands and creating a submerged lands claims process based on a process North Carolina used for 25 coastal counties in the past. |
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Final Report
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Special Report: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wetland Mitigation Credit Determinations
(December 2009) 2009-04
This special report responds to the controversy surrounding the certification and purchase of wetland and nutrient offset credits certified by the Division of Water Quality. Specifically, the report focuses on mitigation credits generated by the same 46 acres of wetlands. Controversy arose when the credits were sold twice, resulting in $698,372 spent by the state that did not purchase any additional mitigation value. Despite subsequent action taken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to avoid the problem in future transactions, the agency’s decisions related to this controversy resulted in actual and potential future losses to the environmental integrity of the Neuse River basin and comprise a net loss to North Carolina’s environment.
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Executive Summary
Final Report
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Eliminating the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Backlog Will Require at Least $549 Million
(November 2009) 2009-03
The General Assembly established the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1985 in response to a federal mandate to regulate USTs. Since the UST Program’s inception, North Carolina has spent more than $543.7 million to clean up UST incidents. Even so, a significant cleanup backlog still remains and North Carolina’s financial liability continues to grow. The evaluation discusses how North Carolina can reduce the backlog and limit future financial liabilities by introducing a risk-based system of financial responsibility for commercial tank owners and requiring greater financial responsibility from noncommercial tank owners. |
Executive Summary
Final Report
Presentation
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North Carolina's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Lacks Strategic Focus and Coordination
(January 2009) 2008-12-07
Funding for water and wastewater infrastructure in North Carolina is provided by six state funding entities, each with its own mission, goals, and objectives. Without an effective oversight agency or comprehensive strategic plan in place to coordinate activities, water and wastewater funding is provided in a complex and fragmented manner. The General Assembly should direct the State Water Infrastructure Commission (SWIC) to develop a statewide strategic plan and needs assessment for water and wastewater infrastructure funding and require better oversight of water and wastewater funding by either authorizing SWIC to coordinate and oversee the system or by establishing a single water and wastewater authority.
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Executive Summary
Final Report
Presentation
Handouts |
