GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1955

Short Title:  Toxaway River Study.	(Public)
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Colton; N. Crawford, Nesbitt, and Greenwood.
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Rules.
─────────────────────────────────────── 

May 10, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION, TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INCLUDING THE THOMPSON, TOXAWAY, AND WHITEWATER RIVERS AREA WITHIN THE STATE PARKS AND THE SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEMS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation, shall conduct a study and engage in preliminary planning to determine the feasibility and costs of designating the Thompson, Toxaway, and Whitewater rivers area of North Carolina as part of the State Parks System. In conducting the study and preliminary planning, the Division shall, at a minimum:
(1)	Determine the eligibility and feasibility of including the Thompson, Toxaway, and Whitewater rivers area under the State Parks Act, Article 2C, Chapter 113 of the General Statutes, and under the Natural and Scenic Rivers Act of 1979, Article 3, Chapter 113A of the General Statutes;
(2)	Provide for public participation in the study to obtain views and information on public needs and desires regarding protection and use of the area;
(3)	Make recommendations for the protection of natural resources of the area;
(4)	Make recommendations for recreational use of the area;
(5)	Consider the presence and jurisdiction of other natural resource agencies in the area;
(6)	Describe the resources of the area and their current uses, identify conflicts created by those uses, and propose solutions to the conflicts; and
(7)	Consider the adjacent Horsepasture River area which is currently designated a State natural river.
Sec. 2. The Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation, shall report the results of its study and preliminary planning to the 1989 General Assembly by January 31, 1991.  The Division shall deliver copies of the report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives.  The Division shall also deliver copies of its report to the Governor, and to the cochairmen of the Study Commission on State Parks and Recreation Areas if that Study Commission is in existence at that time.
Sec. 3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation, $75,000 for the 1989-90 fiscal year to be used to conduct the study and preliminary planning required by Sections 1 and 2 of this act.
Sec. 4. This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.