Orange County NC Website
<br />achieve the goals and lists the local governments to which certain rules would apply; details <br />where these rules supercede the several existing water supply rules; provides an adaptive <br />management framework following a period of implementation; acknowledges control of <br />atmospheric nitrogen sources as absent from the proposed rules, and reserves interest in such <br />rulemaking pending better science. Each subsequent Rule references parameters set forth in this <br />Rule. <br />• Nonpoint source loading rate targets are included asrule-specific values to new <br />development rules, where more appropriate. <br />• Lower New Hope arm has only "no increase" targets, at a minimum accounting would be <br />needed to verify and maintain compliance with targets, and depending on changes in <br />activities, implementation may be needed. <br />• Counties are subject to the existing development rule in addition to municipalities to <br />achieve targets and accountability within each lake arm and address equity concerns. <br />• Clarifies how the rules would supercede existing water supply requirements. <br />Rule .0263, Nutrient Management <br />This rule provides planning and training options for fertilizer applicators. Applicators and <br />consultants in the watershed would either attend nutrient management training offered by the <br />Cooperative Extension Service or complete certified nutrient management plans for the lands to <br />which they apply within five years. Homeowners and business owners would not be subject, but <br />individuals hired by those persons and who apply fertilizer to a total of at least 10 acres per year <br />would be. <br />Rule 0264, Agriculture <br />This rule establishes collective N and P reduction requirements for all persons engaging in <br />agricultural operations in the Jordan Reservoir watershed. After two years, a Watershed <br />Oversight Cornrnittee would deternune if the collective N goal for each subwatershed has been <br />achieved. If not achieved, Local Advisory Committees (LACs) would be formed and tasked with <br />defining implementation strategies. Five years after the effective date, the Commission would <br />determine if LACs have achieved individual and subwatershed N and P goals. If not achieved, <br />the Commission would require additional BMP implementation designed to achieve the goals <br />within eight years after effective date. P accounting would be qualitative in nature. Pasture <br />accounting would be based on increases in BMP implementation. The Rule also defines BMP <br />options, and establishes parameters for individually meeting Rule requirements. Annual reports <br />would be required. <br />• Includes an option for the Watershed Oversight Committee to propose alternatives to the <br />EMC after initial evaluation at 2 years. <br />• Trading rule allows agriculture's participation. <br />2 <br />