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4 <br />Land for Tomorrow -Support legislative appropriations and/or bond funding to protect <br />the state's land, water, and special places, before they are irreversibly lost, by increasing <br />funding to the state's existing conservation trust funds which provide grants for land and <br />water conservation projects in every coLUZty. <br />A UGIIST 30, 2007 UPDATE - The state budget for' 2007-08 irzclzcdes $128 rtzillion over <br />two years for land arld water conservation. -less than. the reyzrested $1 billion over five <br />year's, but enoug{r to denzorlstrate corizrnitrrzertt arzd to help meet inlrrtediate deeds. T/zis <br />includes: <br />^ $'100 rrcillion in COPs (Certificates of Participation) to be distribozted to the <br />Natzor•al Heritage Trust Furr.d arzd tl:e Par•Ics arld Recreation Trzcst Fzzrld (to <br />be paid back. tin°ocogli those same ficrzds) <br />^ $20 n1r'llion in COPS to Divisiort o, f Marine Fr'slzeries for water f °orzt access <br />projects (to be paid bacJc tllrougli file Parks and Recz°eatiorz Trarst Fzrrtd) <br />^ $8 million of appropriations to file Agricultural Development arzd Far'nzlarzcl <br />Preservation Trzcst Fzcrzcl <br />Two of the fiorzds Xisted above are regularly used to match local dollars. .Tlie Parks arzd <br />IZecr'eatiorz Trust Fund (PARTF) fz-nded several pcrr•Iclarul and park facility projects irz <br />Orange CoccrttJ~, lrlcllldlrlg Little River Parlr. and recently Nor'tlterrz Par•It The <br />Agriczoltzcral Developrrzerzt arzd Farnalarzd preservation Trzcst Furr.d.is a recor:figzcratiotz <br />and replenislznzerzt of the state's progr•arrz for far•rrtlar?d preservation, rzow ittclzcdirzg <br />cagricocltcoral ecorxonr.ic developrrcerrt as well. It. has been largely urzfzcrcded since 2002 <br />(tlze County's initial agricultural corzservatiorz easerrzerzt. with Victor Walters was <br />fronded by orze of file last major grants from this program in 2001). Tice C`ourztJ~ also <br />benefits,fr'orrz,finzdirzg to the Natural Heritage Trust Ftcrtd, fvlticlt is lirrtited to state <br />agencies (which sometimes fccrld local priorities of state significance). <br />Open Burning/Burning Permits -Support amending the statutes (G.S. 113-60.31) <br />related to open btulung to remove the open burning prohibition exemption that is <br />currently available during periods of hazardous forest fire conditions, during drought <br />periods, or during air pollution episodes; or, in the alternative, granting local <br />governments the authority to prohibit open blueing without the State's declaration of a <br />hazardous condition since local fire authorities are best suited to assess local conditions <br />and determine the best courses of action related to btu~ning activities. <br />AUGUST 30, 2007 UPDATE -One bill, .House .Sill 1653, was filed to allow corcrzties <br />by orclirlarzce to adopt a corcrzty~vide ban or1 open brcrrzirzg arzd pr•oh.ibit file isszcarzce of <br />liurnirzg per'nr.its in corcnties having such an ordircarlce. It was referred to the House <br />Judiciary .ZI Committee arzd rco further action vccrcrrecf <br />Solid Waste Services -Oppose any legislation to further weaken the authority and/or <br />ability of local governments to operate and administer Solid Waste services, including <br />