Agenda - 03-09-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA �WA ERSHED PROTECTION ALERT Feb. 3, 1992 from Margaret Holton, LWVNC Director Water /Air -- Natural Resources The League of Women Voters of North Carolina asks that the Environ- mental Management Commission(EMC) at its Feb. 13 meeting reject the proposed Water Supply WATERSHED PROTECTION RULES that weaken the minimum standards passed in December, 1990,particularly to reject the proposed density levels and impervious surface coverage requirements. The Watershed Studies in Orange and Durham Counties show that minimum standards need to be strengthened rather than be cut in half if North Carolina is serious about preventing pollution and minimizing degradation of water supplies. The POSITION of The League of Women Voters of North Carolina is PREVENTION OF POLLUTION, therefore for stringent controls that protect the quality of current and potential drinking water supplies, including protection of watershed surface supplies and recharge areas for groundwater. The above message was given to the Governor "s Office, Citizens Affairs Division - -Call 1 --800- 662 -7952 or Raleigh 733 -5017 to protest the revisions. A letter is being formulated to Charles Baker, Chairman, Environmental Management Comm, Division of Environmental Management, P.O. Box 29535,Raleigh,NC,27626. BACKGROUND The League of Women Voters of NC asked the Environmental Manage- ment Commission(EMC), and so did many local Leagues who spoke at Public Hearings across the state last fall, not to weaken the minimum protection rules that had been passed in December 1990. The Proposed Watershed Protection Rules to fulfill the mandate of HB 156 are due to be voted on by EMC at their Feb. 13 meeting. These proposed revisions in general cut in half the protection standards. The most significant proposed revisions include: * Doubling the allowable housing density and impervious surface coverage in the watersheds. The hearing officers have recom- mended that up to 30% of "predominantly undeveloped" WSII watersheds be paved, up to 50% of "low to moderately developed" WSIII watersheds be paved and up to 70% of WSIV class paved. * Reducing the critical area adjacent to reservoirs and run of- the -river water supply intakes from 1 mile to � mile. * Moving the effective date of the rules from July 1992 to July 1994. * Exempting development planned or platted by July 1994. We support the following two changes: • Allowing local governments to grant minor variances for developments. • Allowing local governments to develop and jointly adopt a more protective, regional plan and to petition EMC to adopt the plan(including allowing split classifications within watershed). 801 Oberlin Road Suite 325 Raleigh, N.C. 27605 919/839 -5532