A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to improve the quality of the environment in the state by appropriating funds to improve implementation of the sedimentation pollution control act of 1973, to complete statewide intermittent and perennial stream mapping, and to fully fund the north carolina environment and climate observing network.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to be allocated to the Division of Land Resources to establish and support 30 Environmental Tech V positions to reduce erosion and sedimentation and improve water quality by providing for improved and expedited review of erosion control plans and for improved inspection and enforcement activity under the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973, Article 4 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to be allocated to the Division of Water Quality to complete the statewide intermittent and perennial stream mapping project. The project shall be completed no later than 31 December 2006. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the funds appropriated under this section are onetime funds.  The funds appropriated by this section shall not revert.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year for the State Climate Office of North Carolina at North Carolina State University to install, maintain, and operate 50 additional automated weather stations in the State to fully implement the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of the funds appropriated under this section shall be continued for the 2005‑2007 biennium for maintenance and operation of the stations and for analysis and dissemination of the data obtained from these stations.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective 1 July 2004.