GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1525

Short Title:  Beach Nourishment/Clean Water Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Ballantine.

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Referred to:  Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.

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May 30, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCLUDE BEACH NOURISHMENT AND BEACH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS PURPOSES FOR WHICH GRANTS MAY BE MADE FROM THE CLEAN WATER MANAGEMENT TRUST FUND.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 113-145.3(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Fund Purposes. – Moneys from the Fund may be used for any of the following purposes:
(1)	To acquire land for riparian buffers for the purposes of providing environmental protection for surface waters and urban drinking water supplies and establishing a network of riparian greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational uses.
(1a)	To nourish beaches and assist with beach management practices.
(2)	To acquire conservation easements or other interests in real property for the purpose of protecting and conserving surface waters and urban drinking water supplies.
(3)	To coordinate with other public programs involved with lands adjoining water bodies to gain the most public benefit while protecting and improving water quality.
(4)	To restore previously degraded lands to reestablish their ability to protect water quality.
(5)	To repair failing waste treatment systems if: (i) an application has first been submitted to receive a loan or grant from the Clean Water Revolving Loan and Grant Fund and the application was denied during the latest review cycle; (ii) the repair is a reasonable remedy for resolving an existing waste treatment problem; and (iii) the repair is not for the purpose of expanding the system to accommodate future anticipated growth of a community. Priority shall be given to economically distressed units of local government.
(6)	To repair and eliminate failing septic tank systems, to eliminate illegal drainage connections, and to expand waste treatment systems if the system is being expanded as a remedy to eliminate failing septic tank systems or illegal drainage connections. Priority shall be given to economically distressed units of local government.
(7)	To improve stormwater controls and management practices.
(8)	To facilitate planning that targets reductions in surface water pollution.
(9)	To fund operating expenses of the Board of Trustees and its staff."
Section 2.  G.S. 113-145.6(b) reads as rewritten:
	"(b)	Develop Grant Criteria. – The Trustees shall develop criteria for awarding grants under this Article. The criteria developed shall include consideration of the following:
(1)	The significant enhancement and conservation of water quality in the State.
(2)	The objectives of the basinwide management plans for the State's river basins and watersheds.
(3)	The promotion of regional integrated ecological networks insofar as they affect water quality.
(4)	The specific areas targeted as being environmentally sensitive.
(5)	The geographic distribution of funds as appropriate.
(6)	The preservation of water resources with significant recreational or economic value and uses.
(7)	The development of a network of riparian buffer-greenways bordering and connecting the State's waterways that will serve environmental, educational, and recreational uses.
(8)	The nourishment of beaches and encouragement of beach management practices that help limit storm damage and flooding and that assist with erosion control."
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.