GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1074*

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Sponsors: Senators Conder and Plyler.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operation of the Senate.

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May 1, 1989

A JOINT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A STUDY COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE CONGRESS WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE THE USE OF NORTH CAROLINA WATERS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF COAL AND WOULD GRANT THE RIGHT OF FEDERAL EMINENT DOMAIN OF COAL SLURRY PIPELINES.
Whereas, United States House Resolution 402, Eminent Domain for Coal Slurry Pipelines, has once again been introduced and referred to the House Interior and Public Works Committees after having been passed out of Committee as well as defeated on the House floor several times in recent years; and
Whereas, North Carolina's water is a precious resource that is vitally necessary and claimed for agricultural, domestic, recreational, and beneficial uses; and
Whereas, North Carolina's lakes and streams suffered near drought conditions during the summer months of 1988; and
Whereas, coal slurry pipelines, by using ground water as a means of transport, would seriously deplete water supplies in the Southeast, and would threaten the Broad River, the Yadkin River, the Catawba River, the Pee Dee River, the Neuse River, and the Cape Fear River which are vital to North Carolina agriculture; and
Whereas, coal slurry pipelines are actively opposed by numerous national and North Carolina environmental and agricultural groups because they would take water from arid mountain and midwest areas, and dump the contaminated water near our major urban centers, denying a more productive use of this precious resource to our farmers; and
Whereas, in addition to environmental and agricultural groups opposing coal slurry pipelines, all major railroad companies, the American Association of Railroads, the United Transportation Union and all railroad employees, actively oppose the implementation of coal slurry pipelines because of the highly detrimental effect on the rail industry, which relys heavily on the transport of coal to maintain its economic vitality; and
Whereas, unit coal trains that currently transport vast quantities of coal to North Carolina utilities in an efficient and timely manner would be eliminated; and
Whereas, most recent analysis states that for every single permanent job created by coal slurry pipelines, approximately six permanent railroad jobs in North Carolina would be lost, a result which would in turn have a severe damaging effect on the Railroad Retirement System:
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  There is established a Coal Slurry Eminent Domain Study Commission to study the benefit to North Carolina residents and industry of coal slurry pipelines and the right to condemn private property through eminent domain for their construction.
Sec. 2.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.