Orange County NC Website
-.J- <br />The Ordinance would also apply: <br />Where a perennial stream is to be crossed by a road, bridge, or <br />driveway; <br />Where a structure with more than 25,000 ft. of floor area is <br />proposed; <br />Where the total land disturbance, excluding roads will exceed <br />40,000 square feet; <br />Where commercial or industrial water usage will exceed (some <br />amount to be specified); and <br />Where there are other potential environmental impacts which have <br />been identified. <br />Activities which are exempt from the Ordinance include: <br />Rona fide farms <br />Projects less than 2 acres in size, and <br />Facilities related to the distribution of public utilities. <br />Scearbo pointed out that these criteria apply to private development <br />projects. Environmental review is required by the State for projects <br />which require expenditure of public money; or an action taken by a <br />State agency; or has a potential effect on elements of the "State's <br />common inheritance". <br />Scearbo explained. the various farms of environmental documentation <br />which may be required and the associated costs. Environmental <br />documents may include an Environmental Assessment ar an Environmental <br />Impact Statement. <br />The Environmental Assessment will consist of a form to be supplied by <br />the Planning Department and completed by the applicant. The EA <br />application will be drafted and presented at the next public hearing. <br />The EA application will be in the form of a questionnaire worded to be <br />very clear and easily understood. Most of the information would be <br />known by the applicant and by preparing a standardized form, the <br />applicant will know exactly what is needed. <br />For projects which meet few of the criteria, the EA could be completed <br />by the applicant with little or no additional cost. As projects become <br />more complex, the cost will naturally rise. However, any additional <br />costs associated with the EA are expected to be minimal in the vast <br />majority of cases. <br />An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a more expansive document <br />and would be required when review of the assessment indicates that <br />there may be substantial or unmitigated environmental impacts. <br />The EIS would include: <br />