GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2007
S 2
SENATE BILL 845*
House Committee Substitute Favorable 7/15/08
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Short Title: Amend Env. Laws/Env. Tech. Corrections 2008. |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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March 19, 2007
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend certain environmental and natural resources laws to: (1) provide that private drinking water wells are to be tested for certain additional Parameters; (2) authorize the board of agriculture to adopt rules governing euthanasia of animals; (3) rename the Blue Crab Research Program the Blue Crab and Shellfish Research Program; (4) Clarify that the department of transportation or any other unit of government shall make oyster shells available to the division of marine fisheries of the department of environment and natural resources without remuneration; (5) specify that the environmental management commission may not begin the procedure to adopt a temporary or permanent rule governing the management of stormwater runoff in the coastal counties prior to 1 October 2011 and to specify that Any such additional rules shall not become effective prior to 1 October 2013; (6) clarify the procedure for recordation of restrictions and protective covenants that specify certain coastal stormwater management requirements; (7) establish, consolidate, amend, or repeal certain environmental reporting requirements; and (8) correct technical errors in various laws related to the environment and natural resources, As recommended by the environmental review commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
PART I. AMEND ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS.
SECTION 1. G.S. 87-97(h) reads as rewritten:
"(h) Drinking Water
Testing. - Within 30 days after it issues a certificate of completion for a
newly constructed private drinking water well, the local health department
shall test the water obtained from the well or ensure that the water obtained
from the well has been sampled and tested by a certified laboratory in
accordance with rules adopted by the Commission for Public Health. The water
shall be tested for the following parameters: arsenic, barium, cadmium,
chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury,
nitrates, nitrites, selenium, silver, sodium, zinc, pH, and bacterial
indicators, methyl tert-butyl ether, ethylene dibromide, 1,2-dichloroethane,
1,2-dichloropropane, isopropyl ether, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes,
trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene."
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 19A-24 reads as rewritten:
"§ 19A-24. Powers of Board of Agriculture.
(a) The Board of Agriculture shall:
(1) Establish standards for the care of animals at animal shelters, boarding kennels, pet shops, and public auctions. A boarding kennel that offers dog day care services and has a ratio of dogs to employees or supervisors, or both employees and supervisors, of not more than 10 to one, shall not as to such services be subject to any regulations that restrict the number of dogs that are permitted within any primary enclosure.
(2) Prescribe the manner in which animals may be transported to and from registered or licensed premises.
(3) Require licensees and holders of certificates to keep records of the purchase and sale of animals and to identify animals at their establishments.
(4) Adopt rules to implement this Article, including federal regulations promulgated under Title 7, Chapter 54, of the United States Code.
(5) Adopt rules on the euthanasia of animals in the possession or custody of any person required to obtain a certificate of registration under this Article. An animal shall only be put to death by a method and delivery of method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States, or the American Humane Association. The Department shall establish rules for the euthanasia process using any one or combination of methods and standards prescribed by the three aforementioned organizations. The rules shall address the equipment, the process, and the separation of animals, in addition to the animals' age and condition. If the gas method of euthanasia is approved, rules shall require (i) that only commercially compressed carbon monoxide gas is approved for use, and (ii) that the gas must be delivered in a commercially manufactured chamber that allows for the individual separation of animals. Rules shall also mandate training for any person who participates in the euthanasia process.
(b) In addition to rules on the euthanasia of animals adopted pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of this section, the Board of Agriculture may adopt rules on the euthanasia of animals for:
(1) Written and practical examinations for persons who perform euthanasia.
(2) Issuance of certification to persons who have successfully completed both training and examinations to become a euthanasia technician.
(3) Recertification of euthanasia technicians on a periodic basis.
(4) Standards and procedures for the approval of persons who conduct training of euthanasia technicians.
(5) Approval of materials for use in euthanasia technician training.
(6) Minimum certification criteria for persons seeking to become euthanasia technicians including, but not limited to: age; previous related experience; criminal record; and other qualifications that are related to an applicant's fitness to perform euthanasia.
(7) Denial, suspension, or revocation of certification of euthanasia technicians who either violate any provision of the Animal Welfare Act pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 19A of the General Statutes or otherwise become ineligible for certification.
(8) Provision of the names of persons who perform euthanasia at animal shelters and for the animal shelter to notify the Department when those persons are no longer affiliated, employed, or serving as a volunteer with the shelter.
(9) Certified euthanasia technician to notify the Department when they no longer are employed by or are serving as a volunteer at an animal shelter.
(10) The duties, responsibilities, and standards of conduct for certified euthanasia technicians."
SECTION 2.(b) It is the intention of the General Assembly that the authorization to adopt rules governing euthanasia of animals set out in subsection (b) of G.S. 19A-24, as enacted by subsection (a) of this section, constitute sufficient statutory authority to support the adoption of 02 NCAC 52J .0401 through 02 NCAC 52J .0420, 02 NCAC 52J .0501 and 02 NCAC 52J .0502, 02 NCAC 52J .0602 through 02 NCAC 52J .0610, 02 NCAC 52J .0701 through 02 NCAC 52J .0705, and 02 NCAC 52J .0801 through 02 NCAC 52J .0803, as adopted by the Board of Agriculture on 13 February 2008.
SECTION 3. The Blue Crab Research Program, administered by the North Carolina Sea Grant Program, shall be renamed the Blue Crab and Shellfish Research Program. Funds appropriated to the Program may be used for research on blue crabs, oysters, scallops, clams, and other shellfish.
SECTION 4. G.S. 136-123(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) No landscaping or
highway beautification project undertaken by the Department or any other unit
of government may use oyster shells as a ground cover. The Department or any
other unit of government that comes into possession of possesses oyster
shells shall make them available to the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Division of Marine Fisheries, without remuneration, for use
in any oyster bed revitalization programs or any other program that may use the
shells."
SECTION 5. If Senate Bill 1967 becomes law, then Section 4 of Senate Bill 1967 is designated subsection (a) of Section 4, and a new subsection (b) of Section 4 is inserted after subsection (a) to read:
"SECTION 4.(b) Temporary Limitation on Additional Rule Making. - In order to provide sufficient time for full implementation of this act, to provide sufficient time for accumulation and evaluation of data as to the effect of implementation of this act on coastal water quality, to provide time for additional scientific study of factors that impact coastal water quality, to allow for the development of proposals for improvements to the provisions of Section 2 of this act based on careful consideration of the foregoing, and to provide a period of predictability for persons who may be affected by the provisions of Section 2 of this act; except as may be specifically required by federal law and except as provided in subsection (a) of this section; the Environmental Management Commission shall not begin a procedure to adopt any additional temporary or permanent rule governing the management of stormwater runoff in the Coastal Counties prior to 1 October 2011. Before the Environmental Management Commission begins a procedure to adopt any additional temporary or permanent rule governing the management of stormwater runoff in the Coastal Counties, the Environmental Management Commission shall submit a report to the Environmental Review Commission that details the effect of the implementation of Section 2 of this act on coastal water quality. The report shall include information on improvements in coastal water quality, remaining deficiencies in coastal water quality, and the measures that the Environmental Management Commission believes may be necessary to maintain and further improve coastal water quality. Any additional rules that the Environmental Management Commission may adopt governing the management of stormwater runoff in the Coastal Counties shall not become effective prior to 1 October 2013."
SECTION 6.(a) If Senate Bill 1967 becomes law, then subsection (c) of Section 2 of Senate Bill 1967 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 2.(c) Requirements for Limited Residential
Development in Coastal Counties. - For residential development activities
within the 20 Coastal Counties that are located within one-half mile and
draining to Class SA waters, that have a built upon area greater than twelve
percent (12%), that do not require a stormwater management permit under
subsection (b) of this section, and that will add more than 10,000 square feet
of built upon area, a one-time, nonrenewable stormwater management permit shall
be obtained. The permit shall require recorded deed restrictions or
protective covenants to be recorded on the property in the Office of the
Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located prior to the
issuance of a certificate of occupancy in order to ensure that the plans
and specifications approved in the permit are maintained. Under this
permit, stormwater runoff shall be managed using any one or combination of the
following practices:
(1) Install rain cisterns or rain barrels designed to collect all rooftop runoff from the first one and one-half inches of rain. Rain barrels and cisterns shall be installed in such a manner as to facilitate the reuse of the collected rain water on site and shall be installed in such a manner that any overflow from these devices is directed to a vegetated area in a diffuse flow. Construct all uncovered driveways, uncovered parking areas, uncovered walkways, and uncovered patios out of permeable pavement or other pervious materials.
(2) Direct rooftop runoff from the first one and one-half inches of rain to an appropriately sized and designed rain garden. Construct all uncovered driveways, uncovered parking areas, uncovered walkways, and uncovered patios out of permeable pavement or other pervious materials.
(3) Install any other stormwater best management practice that meets the requirements of 15A NCAC 02H .1008 to control and treat the stormwater runoff from all built upon areas of the site from the first one and one-half inches of rain."
SECTION 6.(b) Subsection (f) of Section 9 of Session Law 2006-246 reads as rewritten:
"(f) Permittees, delegated
programs, and regulated entities must impose or require recorded deed restrictions
and protective covenants to be recorded on the property in the Office of the
Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located prior to the
issuance of a certificate of occupancy in order to that ensure that
development activities will maintain the project consistent with approved
plans."
PART II. REPORTS CONSOLIDATION.
SECTION 7.1. Subsection (e) of G.S. 143B-279.12 is repealed.
SECTION 7.2. Subsection (c) of G.S. 143B-279.13 is repealed.
SECTION 7.3. Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143B-279.15. Report on one-stop permitting program and express permitting program.
No later than 1 March of each year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly and the Environmental Review Commission on the one-stop permits for certain environmental permits program established by G.S. 143B-279.12 and the express permit and certification reviews program established by G.S. 143B-279.13. The report shall include:
(1) The number of environmental permits subject to G.S. 143B-279.12 that took more than 90 days to issue or deny, the types of permits those were, the reasons for the extended processing time of those permits, and how the time within which the permit was actually issued or denied compared with the projected time frame provided to the applicant by the Department as provided by G.S. 143B-279.12. Based on the data gathered in this subdivision, the Department shall include recommendations regarding permit time frames for all major permits issued by the Department.
(2) Findings on the success of the express permit and certification reviews program established by G.S. 143B-279.13 and any other findings or recommendations, including any legislative proposals that it deems pertinent."
PART III. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
SECTION 8.1. G.S. 143-64.12(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Department of
Administration through the State Energy Office shall develop a comprehensive
program to manage energy, water, and other utility use for State agencies and
State institutions of higher learning and shall update this program annually.
Each State agency and State institution of higher learning shall develop and
implement a management plan that is consistent with the State's comprehensive
program under this subsection to manage energy, water, and other utility use.
The energy consumption per gross square foot for all State buildings in total
shall be reduced by twenty percent (20%) by 2010 and thirty percent (30%) by
2015 based on energy consumption for the 2003-20042002-2003
fiscal year. Each State agency and State institution of higher learning shall
update its management plan annually and include strategies for supporting the
energy consumption reduction requirements under this subsection. Each community
college shall submit to the State Energy Office an annual written report of
utility consumption and costs."
SECTION 8.2. G.S. 143-215.3A(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) The Water and Air
Quality Account is established as a nonreverting account within the Department.
Revenue in the Account shall be applied to the costs of administering the
programs for which the fees were collected. Revenue credited to the Account
pursuant to G.S. 105-449.43, G.S. 105-449.125, 105-449.134,
and 105-449.43G.S. 105-449.136 shall be used to
administer the air quality program. Except for the following fees, all
application fees and permit administration fees collected by the State for
permits issued under Articles 21, 21A, 21B, and 38 of this Chapter shall be
credited to the Account:
(1) Fees collected under Part 2 of Article 21A and credited to the Oil or Other Hazardous Substances Pollution Protection Fund.
(2) Fees credited to the Title V Account.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-454, s. 7, effective January 1, 2006.
(4) Fees collected under G.S. 143-215.28A.
(5) Fees collected under G.S. 143-215.94C shall be credited to the Commercial Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund."
SECTION 8.3. If House Bill 821 becomes law, then G.S. 143-215.22L(c), as amended by Section 1 of House Bill 821, reads as rewritten:
"(c) Notice of Intent to File a Petition. - An applicant shall prepare a notice of intent to file a petition that includes a nontechnical description of the applicant's request and an identification of the proposed water source. Within 90 days after the applicant files a notice of intent to file a petition, the applicant shall hold at least one public meeting in the source river basin upstream from the proposed point of withdrawal, at least one public meeting in the source river basin downstream from the proposed point of withdrawal, and at least one public meeting in the receiving river basin to provide information to interested parties and the public regarding the nature and extent of the proposed transfer and to receive comment on the scope of the environmental documents. Written notice of the public meetings shall be provided at least 30 days before the public meetings. At the time the applicant gives notice of the public meetings, the applicant shall request comment on the alternatives and issues that should be addressed in the environmental documents required by this section. The applicant shall accept written comment on the scope of the environmental documents for a minimum of 30 days following the last public meeting. Notice of the public meetings and opportunity to comment on the scope of the environmental documents shall be provided as follows:
(1) By publishing notice in the North Carolina Register.
(2) By publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in:
a. Each county in this State located in whole or in part of the area of the source river basin upstream from the proposed point of withdrawal.
b. Each city or county located in a state located in whole or in part of the surface drainage basin area of the source river basin that also falls within, in whole or in part, the area denoted by one of the following eight-digit cataloging units as organized by the United States Geological Survey:
03050101
(Broad River: NC and SC);
03050103
(Broad River: NC and SC);
03050107
(Broad River: SC);
03050108
(Broad River: SC);
03050109
(Broad River: SC);
03050110
(Broad River: SC);
03010101 (New
River: VA);
03040101 (New
River: VA and NC);
05050002 (New
River: VA and WV);
05050003 (New
River: WV);
05070201 (New
River: KY, VA, and WV);
06010102 (New
River: TN and VA);
06010205 (New
River: TN and VA);
03050102
(Catawba River: NC);
03050105
(Catawba River: NC and SC);
03050106
(Catawba River: SC);
03050111
(Catawba River: SC);
03010202
(Chowan River: NC and VA);
03010205
(Chowan River: NC and VA);
03010102
(Chowan River: NC and VA);
03010201
(Chowan River: NC and VA);
06010108 (French
Broad River NC and TN);
06010105
(French Broad River NC and TN);
06010106
(French Broad River NC and TN);
06010201
(French Broad River TN);
03130001
(Hiwassee River: GA);
03150103
(Hiwassee River: GA);
03150105
(Hiwassee River: AL and GA);
03150106
(Hiwassee River: AL);
06020003
(Hiwassee River: GA, NC, and TN);
06020004
(Hiwassee River: TN);
06030001
(Hiwassee River: AL, GA, and TN);
03060102
(Little Tennessee River: GA, NC, and SC);
06010104
(Little Tennessee River: TN);
06010107
(Little Tennessee River: TN);
06010202
(Little Tennessee River: TN, GA, and NC);
06010203 (Little Tennessee
River: NC);
06010204
(Little Tennessee River: NC and TN);
06010207 (Little
Tennessee River: TN);
06010208 (Little
Tennessee River: TN);
06020001 (Little
Tennessee River: AL, GA, TN);
06020002 (Little
Tennessee River: GA, NC, TN);
03060101 (Savannah
River: NC and SC);
03060103
(Savannah River: GA and SC);
03060104
(Savannah River: GA);
03060105
(Savannah River: GA);
03060107
(Savannah River: SC);
03040203 (Lumber
River: NC and SC);
03040204 (Lumber
River: NC and SC);
03040201 (Lumber River:
NC and SC);
03040206 (Lumber
River: NC and SC);
03050112 (Lumber
River: SC);
02080108
(Albemarle Sound: VA);
02080208
(Albemarle Sound: VA);
03010203
(Albemarle Sound: NC and VA);
03150101
(Ocoee River: GA and TN);
03150102
(Ocoee River: GA);
03150104
(Ocoee River: GA);
02080201
(Roanoke River: VA and WV);
02080203
(Roanoke River: VA);
02080207
(Roanoke River: VA);
03010104
(Roanoke River: NC and VA);
03010105
(Roanoke River: VA);
03010106
(Roanoke River: NC and VA);
03010204
(Roanoke River: NC and VA);
05050001
(Watauga River: NC and VA);
06010101
(Watauga River: TN and VA);
06010103
(Watauga River: NC and TN);
03010103
(Yadkin River: NC and VA);
03040104
(Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040207
(Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040105 (Yadkin
River: NC and SC);
03040202
(Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040205
(Yadkin River: SC);
03050104
(Yadkin River: SC).
03050105 (Broad River: NC and SC);
03050106 (Broad River: SC);
03050107 (Broad River: SC);
03050108 (Broad River: SC);
05050001 (New River: NC and VA);
05050002 (New River: VA and WV);
03050101 (Catawba River: NC and SC);
03050103 (Catawba River: NC and SC);
03050104 (Catawba River: SC);
03010203 (Chowan River: NC and VA);
03010204 (Chowan River: NC and VA);
06010105 (French Broad River: NC and TN);
06010106 (French Broad River: NC and TN);
06010107 (French Broad River: TN);
06010108 (French Broad River: NC and TN);
06020001 (Hiwassee River: AL, GA, TN);
06020002 (Hiwassee River: GA, NC, TN);
06010201 (Little Tennessee River: TN);
06010202 (Little Tennessee River: TN, GA, and NC);
06010204 (Little Tennessee River: NC and TN);
03060101 (Savannah River: NC and SC);
03060102 (Savannah River: GA, NC, and SC);
03060103 (Savannah River: GA and SC);
03060104 (Savannah River: GA);
03060105 (Savannah River: GA);
03040203 (Lumber River: NC and SC);
03040204 (Lumber River: NC and SC);
03040206 (Lumber River: NC and SC);
03040207 (Lumber River: NC and SC);
03010205 (Albemarle Sound: NC and VA);
06020003 (Ocoee River: GA, NC, and TN);
03010101 (Roanoke River: VA);
03010102 (Roanoke River: NC and VA);
03010103 (Roanoke River: NC and VA);
03010104 (Roanoke River: NC and VA);
03010105 (Roanoke River: VA);
03010106 (Roanoke River: NC and VA);
06010102 (Watauga River: TN and VA);
06010103 (Watauga River: NC and TN);
03040101 (Yadkin River: VA and NC);
03040104 (Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040105 (Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040201 (Yadkin River: NC and SC);
03040202 (Yadkin River: NC and SC).
c. Each county in this State located in whole or in part of the area of the source river basin downstream from the proposed point of withdrawal.
d. Any area in the State in a river basin for which the source river basin has been identified as a future source of water in a local water supply plan prepared pursuant to G.S. 143-355(l).
e. Each county in the State located in whole or in part of the receiving river basin.
(3) By giving notice by first-class mail or electronic mail to each of the following:
a. The board of commissioners of each county in this State or the governing body of any county or city that is politically independent of a county in any state that is located entirely or partially within the source river basin of the proposed transfer and that also falls within, in whole or in part, the area denoted by one of the eight-digit cataloging units listed in sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (2) of this subsection.
b. The board of commissioners of each county in this State or the governing body of any county or city that is politically independent of a county in any state that is located entirely or partially within the receiving river basin of the proposed transfer and that also falls within, in whole or in part, the area denoted by one of the eight-digit cataloging units listed in sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (2) of this subsection.
c. The governing body of any public water supply system that withdraws water upstream or downstream from the withdrawal point of the proposed transfer.
d. If any
portion of the source or receiving river basins is located in another state,
all state water management or use agencies, environmental protection agencies,
and the office of the governor in each adjacentthat state
upstream or downstream from the withdrawal point of the proposed transfer.
e. All persons
who have registered a water withdrawal or transfer from the proposed source
river basin under this Part or under similar law in an adjacent another
state.
f. All
persons who hold a certificate for a transfer of water from the proposed source
river basin under this Part or under similar law in an adjacent another
state.
g. All persons who hold a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater discharge permit for a discharge of 100,000 gallons per day or more upstream or downstream from the proposed point of withdrawal.
h. To any other person who submits to the applicant a written request to receive all notices relating to the petition."
SECTION 8.4. If House Bill 819 becomes law, then G.S. 130A-309.91(9), as enacted by Section 1 of House Bill 819, reads as rewritten:
"(9) Television
manufacturer. - A person that: (i) manufactures for sale in this State a
television under a brand that it licenses or owns; (ii) manufactures for sale
in this State a television without affixing a brand; (iii) resells into this
State a television under a brand it owns or licenses produced by other
suppliers, including retail establishments that sell a television under a brand
that the retailer owns or licenses; (iv) imports into the United States or
exports from the United States a television for sale in this State; (v) sells
at retail a television acquired from an importer that is the manufacturer as
described in (i) (iv) of this subdivision, and the retailer
elects to register in lieu of the importer as the manufacturer of those
products; (vi) manufactures a television for or supplies a television to any
person within a distribution network that includes wholesalers or retailers in
this State and that benefits from the sale in this State of the television
through the distribution network; or (vii) assumes the responsibilities and
obligations of a television manufacturer under this Part. In the event
the television manufacturer is one that manufactures, sells, or resells under a
brand it licenses, the licensor or brand owner of the brand shall not be
considered to be a television manufacturer under (i) or (iii) of this
subdivision."
PART IV. EFFECTIVE DATE.
SECTION 9. Section 1 of this act becomes effective 1 January 2009. Section 2 of this act is retroactive to 1 November 2007. Section 6 of this act becomes effective 1 October 2008. Sections 3, 4, 5, and 7.1 through 9 of this act are effective when this act becomes law.