GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S	1 

SENATE BILL 923

Short Title:  Compost/Research Demonstration Project.  	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Perdue.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 13, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO EVALUATE THE USE OF COMPOSTED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND SILVICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a)	The Department of Soil Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University shall conduct a three-year research and demonstration project to evaluate the use of composted municipal solid waste to produce a soil condition in agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural operations.
(b)	The initial phase of this project shall address:
(1)	The mineralization rate of various agriculturally valuable components of composted municipal solid waste;
(2)	The off-site impact of using composted municipal solid waste in agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural operations, including, but not limited to, the modification of sedimentation rates, the potential for nutrient transport into surface water environments from pipes which receive composted municipal solid waste; and
(3)	The impact on shallow groundwater quality.
(c)	The second phase of the project shall address the feasibility and desirability of using composted municipal solid waste in the following applications:
(1)	For row crop productions in agricultural operations;
(2)	For reforestration efforts in forestry operations;
(3)	In nursery operations;
(4)	To enhance the rate of vegetation in mine reclamation;
(5)	In horticultural operations, urban landscaping, and highway beautification;
(6)	Any other compost applications that warrant consideration.
Sec. 2.  The Department of Soil Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University shall submit reports to the General Assembly on October 1, 1992, October 1, 1993, and October 1, 1994, on the research and demonstration project under Section 1 of this act.  These reports shall include findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals regarding the use of composted municipal solid waste in agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural operations.
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina for allocation to the Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University the sum of $100,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year and the sum of $100,000 for the 1992-93 fiscal year to implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act.  This appropriation shall be considered a continuation item for the 1993-94 fiscal year.
Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.