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3 <br /> The new process for classifying watersheds has been <br /> outlined under House Bill 156, which was ratified in June <br /> 1989. This bill requires that, with the help of an advisory <br /> commission which is to be established under the requirements <br /> of the bill, the EMC and DEM develop a new set of water <br /> supply watershed classifications and watershed protection <br /> standards and regulations which will apply to every existing <br /> and proposed water supply watershed in the state. The new <br /> classifications and regulations are to be enacted by January <br /> 1991. House Bill 156 further requires that the EMC and DEM <br /> investigate every existing water supply watershed in the <br /> state and catagorize each watershed into the new <br /> classifications, which is to be accomplished by January 1992 . <br /> Under the requirements of House Bill 156, every local <br /> government having zoning, subdivision, etc. , jurisdiction <br /> over the newly classified watersheds is to enact local <br /> regulations which protect the watersheds to the degree <br /> specified in the new statewide classifications and <br /> regulations. While there undoubtedly be an opportunity for <br /> local jurisdictions to have some degree of input into the <br /> classification to their watersheds, participation in the <br /> classification and regulation program will be mandatory. <br /> Orange County really has only two choices for actions that it <br /> can take to upgrade the watershed classifications for the <br /> Seven Mile Creek and upper Eno River basins: it can wait and <br /> see what comes out of the state mandated reclassification <br /> process, or it can pass a resolution or resolutions <br /> requesting either a WS-II or WS-III classification under the <br /> new classification system. Obviously there is somewhat of a <br /> problem with the second alternative, as it is difficult to <br /> project what the final regulations and standards will <br /> eventually turn out to be for any particular classification <br /> of watershed. However, if an assumption can be made that the <br /> watershed classifications and standards will remain <br /> substantially similar to those recommended by the DEM staff, <br /> then the Orange County Planning Department can make <br /> recommendations to the Planning Board and the County <br /> Commissioners for changes in the existing Zoning and <br /> Subdivision Ordinances to reflect the DEM staff recommended <br /> standards for the desired watershed classification. A <br /> watershed protection ordinance can be drafted to include the <br /> recommended standards for that area of the upper Eno River <br /> basin which is located in an unzoned township. The public <br /> hearing and enactment process would then follow just as with <br /> any zoning ordinance amendment. The Board of County <br /> Commissioners would not have to pass a resolution requesting <br /> a watershed reclassification, because the reclassification <br /> would occur automatically at some point in 1991 as a part of <br /> the process mandated by House Bill 156. <br />