Agenda - 08-26-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e tia i EMC WATERSHED COMMENTS page 5 Water and Sewer Lines :. The history of intensive development is the history of extension of utilities. The only sure way to permanently control the extent of development in water supply watersheds is to limit the extension of water and sewer lines. Sewer lines should not be allowed in the critical area of WS -I I watersheds. Carrboro has developed what might serve as a model policy on the extension of utilities consistent with the protection of water supplies. It addresses questions of the sizing of lines, location in relation to existing service and sensitive areas, and only allows extensions to relieve an existing public health emergency. Classification of Watersheds: We support the classification of watersheds according to their highest and best use. In particular, we support classification of University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoirs in Orange County as proposed WS -11. ( Though we regret the unnecessary loss of their old WS--I classifications, an actual and psychological downgrading.) We note the special character of Morgan Creek, which requires protection as a unique Piedmont resource. We support classification of Lake Michie and other Durham watersheds as WS --11. We support classification of Falls Lake as WS -III. We support classification of the whole of Jordan Lake as WS -IV. Conclusion: In conclusion, the Agricultural Resources Center, PESTicide EDucation project, and Protect Our Water support the Environmental Management Commission's efforts to implement the worthy goals of House Bill 156 thorough the adoption of the strongest possible watershed protection rules. We applaud the efforts to date in adopting good regulations; they need time to work and to prove themselves. We regret the need to revisit the watershed regulations adopted so recently and strongly urge the Commission to resist pressures to significantly weaken levels of protection in the current rules., There is always room for adjustment, and there are Places where the rules need to be strengthened, but this is no time to begin to dismantle them. We urge the EMC to hold fast to high standards for each of the four levels of watershed protection proposed. The Commission's job has been made more difficult by the combination of hearings on the nature of each of classification together with particular classifications for each watershed. Opposition to a proposed classification may result in calls to weaken standards for an entire classification. We urge you to resist such pressure in the name of protecting the public health and safety by assuring clean water. Diluting protection for all watersheds in a classification in order to deal with complaints about a particular one would be a poor trade -off. Prevention of pollution through strong watershed protection is by for the best, and cheapest, long -term policy for North Carolina. . Thank you for your consideration of these comments. AS. rev. 8.19.91