GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2021
SESSION LAW 2021-78
SENATE BILL 605
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE LAWS CONCERNING AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TECHNICAL CHANGES
SECTION 1. Article 61 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Article 61.
"Agricultural Development and Preservation of Farmland.
"Part 2. Voluntary Agricultural Districts.
"§ 106‑737. Qualifying farmland.
In order for farmland to qualify for inclusion in a voluntary agricultural district or an enhanced voluntary agricultural district under Part 1 or Part 2 of this Article, it must be real property that:
(1) Is engaged in
agriculture as that word is defined in G.S. 106‑581.1.Is used for
bona fide farm purposes, as that term is defined in G.S. 106‑743.4(a)
and G.S. 160D‑903.
(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2005‑390, s. 11 effective September 13, 2005.
(3) Is managed in accordance with the Soil Conservation Service defined erosion control practices that are addressed to highly erodable land; and
(4) Is the subject of a
conservation agreement, as defined in G.S. 121‑35, between the county
local government administering the voluntary agricultural district
program and the owner of such land that prohibits nonfarm use or
development of such land for a period of at least 10 years, except for the
creation of not more than three lots that meet applicable county and municipal
zoning and subdivision regulations. The form of the conservation agreement
shall be approved by the agricultural advisory board created under G.S. 106‑739.
"§ 106‑737.1. Revocation of conservation agreement.
By written notice to the county,
local government administering the voluntary agricultural district
program, the landowner may revoke this conservation agreement. Such
revocation shall result in loss of qualifying farm status.
"§ 106‑738. Voluntary agricultural districts.
(a) An ordinance adopted under this Part shall provide:
(1) For the establishment of
voluntary agricultural districts consisting initially of at least the number
of contiguous acres of agricultural land, and forestland or horticultural land
that is part of a qualifying farm or the number of qualifying farms deemed
appropriate by the governing board of the county or city adopting the
ordinance;upon the execution of a conservation agreement as provided in G.S. 106‑737(4).
(2) For the formation of such districts upon the
execution by the owners of the requisite acreage of an agreement to sustain
agriculture in the district;
(3) That the form of this agreement must be reviewed
and approved by an agricultural advisory board established under G.S. 106‑739
or some other county board or official;
(4) That each such district have a representative on
the agricultural advisory board established under G.S. 106‑739.
(5) The minimum size, including acreage; number of tracts; and appropriate proximity of multiple tracts of agricultural land, forestland, or horticultural land that may comprise a voluntary agricultural district.
(b) The purpose of such
agricultural districts shall be to increase identity and pride in the
agricultural community and its way of life and to increase protection from
nuisance suits decrease the likelihood of legal disputes, such as
nuisance actions between farm owners and their neighbors, and other
negative impacts on properly managed farms. The county or city that adopted an
ordinance under this Part may take such action as it deems appropriate to
encourage the formation of such districts and to further their purposes and
objectives.
(c) A county ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part is effective within the unincorporated areas of the county. A city ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part is effective within the corporate limits of the city. A city may amend its ordinances in accordance with G.S. 160A‑383.2 with regard to agricultural districts within its planning jurisdiction.
"§ 106‑739. Agricultural advisory board.
(a) An ordinance adopted under this Part or Part 3 of
this Article shall provide for the establishment of an agricultural advisory
board, organized and appointed as the county or city that adopted the
ordinance shall deem appropriate. by the board of county commissioners
or the city council adopting the ordinance. The county or city that adopted
the ordinance may confer upon this advisory board authority to:
(1) Review and make
recommendations or decisions concerning the establishment and
modification of agricultural districts;districts. The board of county
commissioners or the city council may make decisions regarding the
establishment and modification of voluntary agricultural districts or may delegate
that authority to the agricultural advisory board. If the authority is
delegated to the agricultural advisory board, the agricultural advisory board's
decisions shall be appealable to the board of county commissioners or city council
by an owner of land that has been denied enrollment in a voluntary agricultural
district or has been removed from a voluntary agricultural district by the agricultural
advisory board.
(1a) Execute agreements with landowners necessary for enrollment of land in a voluntary agricultural district.
(2) Review and make
recommendations concerning any ordinance or amendment adopted or proposed for
adoption under this Part or Part 3 of this Article;Article.
(3) Hold public hearings on
public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural operations,
particularly if such projects involve condemnation of all or part of any
qualifying farm;farm.
(4) Advise the governing
board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance on projects, programs,
or issues affecting the agricultural economy or way of life within the county;county.
(5) Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the governing board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance.
(b) The members of the agricultural advisory board shall be chosen to provide the broadest possible representation of the geographical regions of the local government and to represent, to the extent possible, all segments of agricultural production existing within the local government. A majority of the members of the agricultural advisory board shall be actively engaged in agriculture.
(c) The agricultural advisory board may, at the discretion of the board of county commissioners or the city council, utilize an existing local government agency for the purpose of administration, record keeping, and other related tasks or duties.
"§ 106‑741. Record notice of proximity to farmlands.
(a) All counties shall
require that land records include some form of notice reasonably calculated to
alert a person researching the title of a particular tract that such tract is
located within one‑half mile of a poultry, swine, or dairy qualifying
farm or within 600 feet of any other qualifying farm or within one‑half
mile of a voluntary agricultural district.the property line of any tract
of land enrolled in a voluntary agricultural district.
"§ 106‑743. Local ordinances.
A county or a city adopting an
ordinance under this Part or Part 3 of this Article may consult with the North
Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture or his the Commissioner's staff
before adoption, and shall record the ordinance with the Commissioner's office
after adoption. Thereafter, the county or city shall submit to the Commissioner
at least once a year, a written report including the status, progress progress,
number of enrolled farms and acres, and activities of its farmland
preservation program under this Part or Part 3 of this Article.
"Part 3. Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts.
"§ 106‑743.1. Enhanced voluntary agricultural districts.
(a) A county or a municipality may adopt an ordinance establishing an enhanced voluntary agricultural district. An ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part shall provide:
(1) For the establishment of an enhanced voluntary agricultural district that initially consists of at least the number of contiguous acres of agricultural land, and forestland and horticultural land that is part of a qualifying farm under G.S. 106‑737 or the number of qualifying farms deemed appropriate by the governing board of the county or city adopting the ordinance.
(2) For the formation of the enhanced voluntary agricultural district upon the execution of a conservation agreement, as defined in G.S. 121‑35, that meets the condition set forth in G.S. 106‑743.2 by the landowners of the requisite acreage to sustain agriculture in the enhanced voluntary agricultural district.
(3) That the form of the agreement under subdivision (2) of this subsection be reviewed and approved by an agricultural advisory board established under G.S. 106‑739, or other governing board of the county or city that adopted the ordinance.
(4) That each enhanced voluntary agricultural
district have a representative on the agricultural advisory board established
under G.S. 106‑739.
(b) The purpose of establishing an enhanced voluntary agricultural district is to allow a county or a city to provide additional benefits to farmland beyond that available in a voluntary agricultural district established under Part 2 of this Article, when the owner of the farmland agrees to the condition imposed under G.S. 106‑743.2. The county or city that adopted the ordinance may take any action it deems appropriate to encourage the formation of these districts and to further their purposes and objectives.
(c) A county ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part is effective within the unincorporated areas of the county. A city ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part is effective within the corporate limits of the city. A city may amend its ordinances in accordance with G.S. 160A‑383.2 with regard to agricultural districts within its planning jurisdiction.
(d) A county or city ordinance adopted pursuant to this Part may be adopted simultaneously with the creation of a voluntary agricultural district pursuant to G.S. 106‑738.
."
ALLOW MAGISTRATES TO WAIVE TRIALS FOR STATE FOREST RULE OFFENSES
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 7A‑273 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7A‑273. Powers of magistrates in infractions or criminal actions.
In criminal actions or infractions, any magistrate has power:
(2) In misdemeanor or infraction cases involving alcohol offenses under Chapter 18B of the General Statutes, traffic offenses, hunting, fishing, State park and recreation area rule offenses under Chapters 113 and 143B of the General Statutes, State forest rule offenses under Articles 74 and 75 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, boating offenses under Chapter 75A of the General Statutes, open burning offenses under Article 78 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, and littering offenses under G.S. 14‑399(c) and G.S. 14‑399(c1), to accept written appearances, waivers of trial or hearing and pleas of guilty or admissions of responsibility, in accordance with the schedule of offenses and fines or penalties promulgated by the Conference of Chief District Judges pursuant to G.S. 7A‑148, and in such cases, to enter judgment and collect the fines or penalties and costs;
."
SECTION 2.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
EXEMPT CERTAIN FIRES FROM OPEN BURNING LAWS
SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 106‑950 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a2) Except in cases where the Commissioner has prohibited all open burning during periods of hazardous forest fire conditions or during air pollution episodes declared pursuant to Article 21B of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, this Article does not apply to any fires started, or caused to be started, for cooking, warming, or ceremonial events, if the fire is confined (i) within an enclosure from which burning material may not escape or (ii) within a protected area upon which a watch is being maintained and which is provided with adequate fire protection equipment."
SECTION 3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
FOREST SERVICE OVERTIME MODIFICATION
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 106‑903 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106‑903. Overtime compensation for forest fire fighting.
The Department shall, within funds
appropriated to the Department, provide either monetary overtime
compensation or compensatory leave at an hour‑for‑hour rate, at
its discretion, to the professional employees of the North Carolina
Forest Service who are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act and involved
in fighting forest fires.fires for overtime earned while conducting
fire suppression duties as defined in G.S. 106‑955. If the
Department provides compensatory leave for overtime earned, it shall be
provided in a manner consistent with the State's general compensatory time
policy for exempt employees established by the Office of State Human Resources."
SECTION 4.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to overtime earned on or after that date.
INCREASE PUNISHMENT FOR TIMBER LARCENY AND INCREASE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR DAMAGING TIMBER OR AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 14‑135 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑135. Cutting, injuring, or removing
another's Larceny of timber.
(a) Offense. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person commits the offense of larceny of timber if the person does any of the following:
(1) If any person not being the bona fide owner
thereof, shall knowingly and willfully cut down, injure or remove any standing,
growing or fallen tree or log off the property of another, the person shall be
punished the same as in G.S. 14‑72.Knowingly and willfully cuts
down, injures, or removes any timber owned by another person, without the
consent of the owner of the land or the owner of the timber, or without a
lawful easement running with the land.
(2) Buys timber directly from the owner of the timber and fails to make payment in full to the owner by (i) the date specified in the written timber sales agreement or (ii) if there is no such agreement, 60 days from the date that the buyer removes the timber from the property.
(b) Exceptions. The following are exceptions to the offense set forth in subsection (a) of this section:
(1) A person is not guilty of an offense under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section if the person is an employee or agent of an electric power supplier, as defined in G.S. 62‑133.8, and either of the following conditions is met:
a. The person believed in good faith that consent of the owner had been obtained prior to cutting down, injuring, or removing the timber.
b. The person believed in good faith that the cutting down, injuring, or removing of the timber was permitted by a utility easement or was necessary to remove a tree hazard. For purposes of this sub‑subdivision, the term "tree hazard" includes a dead or dying tree, dead parts of a living tree, or an unstable living tree that is within striking distance of an electric transmission line, electric distribution line, or electric equipment and constitutes a hazard to the line or equipment in the event of a tree failure.
(2) A person is not guilty of an offense under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section if either of the following conditions is met:
a. The person remitted payment in full within the time period set in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to a person he or she believed in good faith to be the rightful owner of the timber.
b. The person remitted payment in full to the owner of the timber within the 10‑day period set forth in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Prima Facie Evidence. An owner of timber who does not receive payment in full within the time period set in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section may notify the timber buyer in writing of the owner's demand for payment at the timber buyer's last known address by certified mail or by personal delivery. The timber buyer's failure to make payment in full within 10 days after the mailing or personal delivery authorized under this subsection shall constitute prima facie evidence of the timber buyer's intent to commit an offense under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Penalty; Restitution. A person who commits an offense under subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a Class G felony. Additionally, a defendant convicted of an offense under subsection (a) of this section shall be ordered to make restitution to the timber owner in an amount equal to either of the following:
(1) Three times the value of the timber cut down, injured, or removed in violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Three times the value of the timber bought but not paid for in violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section.
Restitution shall also include the cost incurred by the owner to determine the value of the timber. For purposes of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, "value of the timber" shall be based on the stumpage rate of the timber.
(e) Civil Remedies. Nothing in this section shall affect any civil remedies available for a violation of subsection (a) of this section."
SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 1‑539.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 1‑539.1. Damages for unlawful cutting, removal or burning of timber; misrepresentation of property lines.
(a) Any person, firm or
corporation not being the bona fide owner thereof or agent of the owner who
shall without the consent and permission of the bona fide owner enter upon the
land of another and injure, cut or remove any valuable wood, timber, shrub or
tree therefrom, shall be liable to the owner of said land for double triple
the value of such wood, timber, shrubs or trees so injured, cut or removed.
(b) If any person, firm or
corporation shall willfully and intentionally set on fire, or cause to be set
on fire, in any manner whatever, any valuable wood, timber or trees on the
lands of another, such person, firm or corporation shall be liable to the owner
of said lands for double triple the value of such wood, timber or
trees damaged or destroyed thereby.
."
SECTION 5.(c) G.S. 1‑539.2B reads as rewritten:
"§ 1‑539.2B. Double Triple damages for
injury to agricultural commodities or production systems; define value of
agricultural commodities grown for educational, testing, or research purposes.
(a) Any person who
unlawfully and willfully injures or destroys any other person's agricultural
commodities or production system is liable to the owner for double triple
the value of the commodities or production system injured or destroyed.
."
SECTION 5.(d) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. Subsections (b) and (c) of this section become effective December 1, 2021, and apply to civil actions filed on or after that date.
REQUIRE TIMBER BUYERS AND TIMBER OPERATORS TO PROVIDE A WOOD LOAD TICKET TO SELLERS OF CERTAIN WOOD PRODUCTS
SECTION 6.(a) Article 22 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑135.1. Wood load tickets required for certain wood product sales; exceptions; penalties.
(a) Definition. For purposes of this section, the term "wood product" means trees, timber, wood, or any combination thereof.
(b) Requirement. Except as provided in this section, whenever a timber buyer or timber operator purchases wood product by the load directly from a timber grower or seller and the load is sold by weight, cord, or measure of board feet, the timber buyer or operator shall furnish the timber grower or seller, within 30 days of the completion of the wood product harvest, a separate, true, and accurate wood load ticket for each load of wood product removed from the timber grower's or seller's property. At a minimum, each wood load ticket shall include all of the following information provided by the timber grower or seller who sold the wood product:
(1) The name of the timber grower or seller.
(2) The county from which the wood product was severed.
(3) The amount of wood product severed.
(4) The date the wood product was delivered to the timber buyer or timber operator.
(c) Applicability. The provisions of this section do not apply to the following:
(1) The sale of wood for firewood only.
(2) A landowner harvesting and processing their own timber.
(3) Bulk or lump sum sales for an agreed total price for all timber purchased and sold in one transaction.
(d) Punishment. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor."
SECTION 6.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
EXPAND THE LAWS ENFORCED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
SECTION 7.(a) G.S. 106‑897 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106‑897. Forest laws defined.
The forest laws consist of:of
all of the following:
(1) G.S. 14‑136 to
G.S. 14‑140;G.S. 14‑135 to G.S. 14‑140.1.
(2) Articles 74 through 84 of
this Chapter;Chapter.
(3) G.S. 77‑13 and
G.S. 77‑14;G.S. 77‑14.
(4) Other statutes enacted
for the protection of forests and woodlands from fire, insects, or disease and
concerning obstruction of streams and ditches in forests and woodlands; andwoodlands.
(5) Regulations and ordinances adopted under the authority of the above statutes."
SECTION 7.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
REQUIRE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES RECORD AUDITS
SECTION 8.(a) G.S. 106‑92.8 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106‑92.8. Tonnage fees: reporting system.
For the purpose of defraying expenses connected with the registration, inspection and analysis of the materials coming under this Article, each manufacturer or registrant shall pay to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services tonnage fees in addition to registration fees as follows: for agricultural liming material, fifty cents (50’) per ton; for landplaster, fifty cents (50’) per ton; excepting that these fees shall not apply to materials which are sold to fertilizer manufacturers for the sole purpose for use in the manufacture of fertilizer or to materials when sold in packages of 10 pounds or less.
Any manufacturer, importer, jobber, firm, corporation or person who distributes materials coming under this Article in this State shall make application for a permit to report the materials sold and pay the tonnage fees as set forth in this section.
The Commissioner of Agriculture
shall grant such permits on the following conditions: The applicant's agreement
that he will to keep such records as may be necessary to indicate
accurately the tonnage of liming materials, etc., sold in the State and his the
applicant's agreement for the Commissioner or this the
Commissioner's authorized representative to examine such records to verify
the tonnage statement. If the records are available electronically, the
electronic records shall be made available to the Commissioner or the
Commissioner's authorized representative. The registrant shall report
quarterly and pay the applicable tonnage fees quarterly, on or before the tenth
day of October, January, April, and July of each year. The report and payment
shall cover the tonnage of liming materials, etc., sold during the preceding
quarter. The report shall be on forms furnished by the Commissioner. If the
report is not filed and the tonnage fees paid by the last day of the month in
which it is due, or if the report be false, the amount due shall bear a penalty
of ten percent (10%) which shall be added to the tonnage fees due. If the
report is not filed and the tonnage fees paid within 60 days of the date due,
or if the report or tonnage be false, the Commissioner may revoke the permit
and cancel the registration."
SECTION 8.(b) G.S. 106‑277.12 reads as rewritten:
All persons transporting or
delivering for transportation, selling, offering or exposing for sale
agricultural or vegetable seeds if their name appears on the label shall keep
for a period of two years a file sample and a complete record of such seed,
including invoices showing lot number, kind and variety, origin, germination,
purity, treatment, and the labeling of each lot. The Commissioner or his the
Commissioner's duly authorized agents shall have the right to inspect such
records in connection with the administration of this Article at any time
during customary business hours. If the records are available
electronically, the electronic records shall be made available to the
Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative."
SECTION 8.(c) G.S. 106‑284.40(c)(2) reads as rewritten:
"(2) Keep such records as
may be necessary or required by the Commissioner to indicate accurately the
tonnage of commercial feed distributed in this State, and the Commissioner or his
the Commissioner's duly designated agent shall have the right to
examine such records during normal business hours, to verify statements of
tonnage. If the records are available electronically, the electronic records
shall be made available to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized
representative. Failure to make an accurate statement of tonnage or to pay
the inspection fee or comply as provided herein shall constitute sufficient
cause for the cancellation of all registrations on file for the
distributor."
SECTION 8.(d) G.S. 106‑671(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Reporting System.
Each manufacturer, importer, jobber, firm, corporation or person who
distributes commercial fertilizers in this State shall make application to the
Commissioner for a permit to report the tonnage of commercial fertilizer sold
and shall pay to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services an inspection fee of fifty cents (50’) per ton. The Commissioner is
authorized to require each such distributor to keep such records as may be
necessary to indicate accurately the tonnage of commercial fertilizers sold in
the State, and as are satisfactory to the Commissioner. Such records shall be
available to the Commissioner, or his the Commissioner's duly
authorized representative, at any and all reasonable hours for the purpose of
making such examination as is necessary to verify the tonnage statement and the
inspection fees paid. If the records are available electronically, the
electronic records shall be made available to the Commissioner or the
Commissioner's authorized representative. Each registrant shall report
monthly the tonnage sold to non‑registrants on forms furnished by the
Commissioner. Such reports shall be made and inspection fees shall be due and
payable monthly on the fifteenth of each month covering the tonnage and kind of
commercial fertilizers sold during the past month. If the report is not filed
and the inspection fee paid by the last day of the month it is due, the amount
due shall bear a penalty of ten percent (10%), which shall be added to the
inspection fee due. If the report is not filed and the inspection fee paid
within 60 days of the date due, or if the report or tonnage be false, the
Commissioner may revoke the permit."
TOBACCO TRUST FUND COMMISSION ADMIN EXPENSES
SECTION 9. G.S. 143‑717(i) reads as rewritten:
"(i) Limit on Operating
and Administrative Expenses. All administrative expenses of the Commission
shall be paid from the Fund. No more than three hundred fifty thousand
dollars ($350,000) three hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars
($375,000) may be used each fiscal year for administrative and operating
expenses of the Commission and its staff, provided that the Commission may
annually adjust the administrative expense cap imposed by this subsection, so
long as that any cap increase does not exceed the amount necessary to provide
for statewide salary and benefit adjustments enacted by the General
Assembly."
WORKERS' COMPENSATION DEFINITION CLARIFICATION
SECTION 10. G.S. 97‑2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 97‑2. Definitions.
When used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Employment. The term "employment" includes employment by the State and all political subdivisions thereof, and all public and quasi‑public corporations therein and all private employments in which three or more employees are regularly employed in the same business or establishment or in which one or more employees are employed in activities which involve the use or presence of radiation, except agriculture and domestic services, unless 10 or more full‑time nonseasonal agricultural workers are regularly employed by the employer and an individual sawmill and logging operator with less than 10 employees, who saws and logs less than 60 days in any six consecutive months and whose principal business is unrelated to sawmilling or logging. For purposes of this section, "agriculture" has the same meaning as in G.S. 106‑581.1.
."
CREATE A NEW GENERAL PERMIT FOR FARMS WITH FARM DIGESTER SYSTEMS
SECTION 11.(a) G.S. 143‑213 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑213. Definitions.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms as used in this Article and Articles 21A of this Chapter are defined as follows:
(5a) The terms "animal waste" and "animal waste management system" have the same meaning as in G.S. 143‑215.10B.
(12a) The term "farm digester system" means a system, including all associated equipment and lagoon covers, by which gases are collected and processed from an animal waste management system for the digestion of animal biomass for use as a renewable energy resource. A farm digester system shall be considered an agricultural feedlot activity within the meaning of "animal operation" and shall also be considered a part of an "animal waste management system" as those terms are defined in G.S. 143‑215.10B.
(12b) The term "lagoon cover" means a structure or material that covers a lagoon receiving animal waste as part of an animal waste management system. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "lagoon" includes a lagoon as defined in G.S. 106‑802(1) or a storage pond.
(14a) The term "renewable animal biomass energy resource" means any renewable energy resource, as defined in G.S. 62‑133.8(a)(8), that utilizes animal waste as a biomass resource, including a farm digester system.
."
SECTION 11.(b) G.S. 143‑215.10C reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑215.10C. Applications and permits.
(a) No person shall
construct or operate an animal waste management system for an animal operation
or operate an animal waste management system for a dry litter poultry facility
that is required to be permitted under 40 Code of Federal Regulations § 122, as
amended at 73 Federal Register 70418 (November 20, 2008), without first
obtaining an individual permit or a general permit under this Article. The
Commission shall develop a system of individual and general permits for animal
operations and dry litter poultry facilities based on species, number of
animals, and other relevant factors. The Commission shall develop a general
permit for animal operations that includes authorization for the permittee to
construct and operate a farm digester system. It is the intent of the
General Assembly that most animal waste management systems be permitted under a
general permit. The Commission, in its discretion, may require that an animal
waste management system system, including an animal waste management
system that utilizes a farm digester system, be permitted under an
individual permit if the Commission determines that an individual permit is
necessary to protect water quality, public health, or the environment. After
the general permit for animal operations that includes authorization for the
permittee to construct and operate a farm digester system has been issued, the
decision to require an individual permit shall not be based solely on the fact
that the animal waste management system utilizes a farm digester system. The
owner or operator of an animal operation shall submit an application for a
permit at least 180 days prior to construction of a new animal waste management
system or expansion of an existing animal waste management system and shall
obtain the permit prior to commencement of the construction or expansion. The
owner or operator of a dry litter poultry facility that is required to be
permitted under 40 Code of Federal Regulations § 122, as amended at 73 Federal
Register 70418 (November 20, 2008), shall submit an application for a permit at
least 180 days prior to operation of a new animal waste management system.
(c) The Commission shall act on a permit application as quickly as possible and may conduct any inquiry or investigation it considers necessary before acting on an application.
(c1) Failure of the Commission to make a final permitting decision involving a notice of intent for a certificate of coverage under a general permit for animal operations that includes authorization for the permittee to construct and operate a farm digester system within 90 days of the Commission's receipt of a completed notice of intent shall result in the deemed approval of coverage under the permit. If the Commission fails to act within 90 days of the Commission's receipt of a completed notice of intent, the permittee may request that the Commission provide written confirmation that the notice of intent is deemed approved. Failure to provide this written confirmation within 10 days of the request shall serve as a basis to seek a contested case hearing pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Unless all parties to the case agree otherwise in writing, the administrative law judge shall issue a final decision or order in the contested case no later than 120 days after its commencement pursuant to G.S. 150B‑23; provided that, upon written request of the administrative law judge or any party to the hearing, the Chief Administrative Law Judge may extend this deadline for good cause shown, no more than two times, for not more than 30 days per extension. Upon review of a failure to act on a notice of intent, the administrative law judge may either (i) direct the Commission to issue a written certificate of coverage under the general permit or (ii) deny the petition.
."
SECTION 11.(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Certificate of coverage" means an approval granted to a person who meets the requirements of coverage under a general permit as provided in 15A NCAC 02T .0111 (Conditions for Issuing General Permits).
(2) "Commission" means the Environmental Management Commission.
(3) "Notice of intent" means a request for coverage under a general permit using forms approved by the Division of Water Resources of the Department of Environmental Quality.
SECTION 11.(d) The Commission shall immediately initiate the process of developing and issuing a general permit for animal operations that includes authorization for the permittee to construct and operate a farm digester system. In addition to conditions required to describe and authorize the construction, monitoring, and proper operation of farm digester systems, the general permit shall contain the same conditions that are included in the currently existing general permits for animal operations. The general permit shall become effective no later than 12 months after the effective date of this section and shall expire on the later of September 30, 2024, or the effective date of the next version of the currently existing general permit for animal operations.
SECTION 11.(e) Until the general permit issued under subsection (d) of this section becomes effective, any animal operation that holds a general or individual permit that (i) is in effect on the effective date of this section and (ii) authorizes the construction and operation of a farm digester system may construct and continue to operate the farm digester system as authorized by that permit. For any animal operation that holds a general or individual permit that is in effect on the effective date of this section, but that does not authorize the construction and operation of a farm digester system, an operator may submit a notice of intent to be covered under the general permit to be developed under subsection (d) of this section. If the submitted notice of intent is incomplete, the Commission shall notify the applicant of the deficiency in the notice of intent. When an operator submits a completed notice of intent, the Commission shall, within 90 days of receipt of the completed notice of intent, either issue a certificate of coverage allowing the operator to construct and operate the farm digester system or notify the operator of the basis for the denial of the certificate of coverage. If the Commission fails to take action on the notice of intent within 90 days, authorization to construct and operate a farm digester system under the existing general permit shall be deemed approved.
SECTION 11.(f) Nothing in this section shall apply to permits for facilities that are required to be permitted under 40 C.F.R. § 122, as amended at 73 Federal Register 70418 (November 20, 2008).
SECTION 11.(g) G.S. 106‑806 reads as rewritten:
"§ 106‑806. Construction or renovation of swine houses at preexisting swine farms.
(a) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Farm digester system" means a farm digester system as defined in G.S. 143‑213(12a).
(2) "New swine farm" means any swine farm the operations of which were sited on or after October 1, 1995. "New swine farm" does not include any preexisting swine farm, even if a subsequent site evaluation is performed on or after October 1, 1995, at the preexisting swine farm.
(2)(3) "Preexisting
swine farm" means any swine farm either the operations of which were begun
prior to October 1, 1995, or the site evaluation of which was approved prior to
October 1, 1995, by the Department of Environmental Quality under Part 1A of
Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(3)(4) "Renovation
or construction," "renovated or constructed," and any similar
phrase mean any activity to renovate, construct, reconstruct, rebuild, modify,
alter, change, restructure, upgrade, improve, enlarge, reduce, move, or
otherwise perform construction work on a swine house that is a component of a
swine farm.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a farm digester system that is a component of a preexisting swine farm may be constructed or renovated if the construction or renovation of the farm digester system satisfies all of the following requirements:
(1) The construction or renovation of the farm digester system does not result in an increase in the permitted capacity of the swine farm, as measured by the annual steady state live weight capacity of the swine farm.
(2) The construction or renovation of the farm digester system does not result in requiring an increase in the total permitted capacity of the animal waste management system or systems located at the swine farm.
(3) The construction or renovation of the farm digester system shall comply with the siting requirements set out in G.S. 106‑803 to the maximum extent practicable. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, construction or renovation of the farm digester system shall not result in any portion of the constructed or renovated farm digester system being located closer to the building, property, or well that is the object of the siting requirement than any existing component of the animal waste management system that fails to meet the siting requirements of G.S. 106‑803.
(4) Renovation or construction of a farm digester system shall not be allowed in the 100‑year floodplain."
SECTION 11.(h) G.S. 105‑275(8) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:
"a2. Notwithstanding sub‑subdivision a1. of this subdivision, sub‑subdivision a. of this subdivision applies to a farm digester system as defined in G.S. 143‑213(12a)."
SECTION 11.(i) This section is effective when it becomes law.
CLARIFY THE DURATION OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR H‑2A WORKERS
SECTION 12.(a) G.S. 20‑7(f)(3) reads as rewritten:
"(3) Duration of license for certain other drivers. The durations listed in subdivisions (1), (2) and (2a) of this subsection are valid unless the Division determines that a license of shorter duration should be issued when the applicant holds valid documentation issued by, or under the authority of, the United States government that demonstrates the applicant's legal presence of limited duration in the United States. In no event shall a license of limited duration expire later than the expiration of the authorization for the applicant's legal presence in the United States. A drivers license issued to an H‑2A worker expires three years after the date of issuance of the H‑2A worker's visa; provided, if at any time during that three‑year period an H‑2A worker's visa duration is not extended by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the license expires on the date the H‑2A worker's visa expires. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "H‑2A worker" means a foreign worker who holds a valid H‑2A visa pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a)) and who is legally residing in this State."
SECTION 12.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to applications for licenses submitted on or after that date.
AG COST SHARE TECHNICAL CORRECTION
SECTION 13A. G.S. 106‑850(b)(2) reads as rewritten:
"(2) The program shall initially include the
present 16 nutrient sensitive watershed counties and 17 additional counties.include
the entire State."
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 14.(a) If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and, to this end, the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.
SECTION 14.(b) Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of June, 2021.
s/ Phil Berger
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
s/ Destin Hall
Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives
s/ Roy Cooper
Governor
Approved 12:05 p.m. this 2nd day of July, 2021