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13 <br />INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE <br />The Neuse River Basin Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy is a set of rules <br />adapted in August, 199$ by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) with a <br />goal of a 30% reduction in nitrogen output from each of the following sources: <br />Wastewater Treatment, Urban Stormwater, Agriculture, and Nutrient Application. <br />Included within the rule is the protection of Riparian Buffers due to their ability to aid in <br />the removal of nitrogen from groundwater. The excess amounts of nitrogen currently <br />entering into the Neuse River have been the primary cause of the recent fishkills in the <br />coastal areas of the basin. <br />The Model Stormwater Program addresses the requirements of the Neuse River Basin <br />Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy (also known as the "Neuse Rules") as <br />they apply to stormwater. The stormwater section of these rules applies only to the larger <br />local governments within the basin, and includes Orange County. The main focus of the <br />stormwater requirements is to reduce nitrogen loaded runoff from leaving urban areas and <br />entering the streams and rivers of the basin. <br />