A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS TO: (1) clarify the requirement that motor vehicles operated on a federal installation in an emissions county are subject to emissions inspection requirements; (2) clarify the requirement that land‑disturbing activity be conducted in accordance with an approved plan; (3) Authorize the Environmental Review Commission and the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture to contract for Consultants; (4) Provide that a person who installs, repairs, or pumps Septic Systems may purchase and install approved effluent filters; and (5) provide that stormwater control ordinances that are adopted by cities must at least meet all of the minimum statutory requirements, as recommended by the environmental review commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑183.2(b)(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	It is subject to registration with the Division under Article 3 of this Chapter, except for motor vehicles operated on a federal installation as provided in sub‑subdivision e. of subdivision (5) of this subsection.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 113A‑57 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(5)	The land‑disturbing activity shall be conducted in accordance with the approved erosion and sedimentation control plan."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 120‑70.44 reads as rewritten:
"§ 120‑70.44.  Additional powers.
(a)	The Environmental Review Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19, and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Environmental Review Commission may meet at any time upon the call of either cochairman, whether or not the General Assembly is in session. The Environmental Review Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
(b)	Notwithstanding any rule or resolution to the contrary, proposed legislation to implement any recommendation of the Environmental Review Commission regarding any study the Environmental Review Commission is authorized to undertake or any report authorized or required to be made by or to the Environmental Review Commission may be introduced and considered during any session of the General Assembly.
(c)	The Commission may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120‑32.02."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 120‑70.63 reads as rewritten:
"§ 120‑70.63.  Additional powers.
(a)	The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers of a joint committee of the General Assembly provided for under the provisions of G.S. 120‑19, and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Commission may meet at any time upon the call of either cochair, whether or not the General Assembly is in session. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
(b)	The Commission may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120‑32.02."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 130A‑335.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The person who manufactures, installs, repairs, or pumps any septic tank to be installed in this State as a part of a septic tank system that is designed to treat 3,000 gallons per day or less of sewage shall provide an effluent filter approved by the Department pursuant to the requirements of G.S. 130A‑335, this section, and rules adopted by the Commission. Any person who installs, repairs, or pumps systems described in this section may purchase and install any approved filters on the systems. The person who installs the effluent filter shall install the effluent filter as a part of the septic tank system in accordance with the specifications provided by the manufacturer of the effluent filter. An effluent filter shall:
(1)	Be made of materials that are capable of withstanding the corrosives to which septic tank systems are normally subject.
(2)	Prevent solid material larger than one‑sixteenth of an inch, as measured along the shortest axis of the material, from entering the drainfield.
(3)	Be designed and constructed to allow for routine maintenance.
(4)	Be designed and constructed so as not to require maintenance more frequently than once in any three‑year period under normally anticipated use."
SECTION 6.  Part 8 of Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑459.  Stormwater control.
A city may adopt and enforce a stormwater control ordinance as authorized by Part 1 of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. A stormwater control ordinance adopted pursuant to this section must at least meet all of the minimum requirements of Part 1 of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when the act becomes law.