AN ACT to promote innovative stormwater management and water quality protection efforts.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113A‑251 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113A‑251.  Purpose.
The General Assembly recognizes that a critical need exists in this State to clean up pollution in the State's surface waters and to protect and conserve those waters that are not yet polluted. The task of cleaning up polluted waters and protecting the State's water resources is multifaceted and requires different approaches, including innovative pilot projects, that take into account the problems, the type of pollution, the geographical area, and the recognition that the hydrological and ecological values of each resource sought to be upgraded, conserved, and protected are unique.
It is the intent of the General Assembly that moneys from the Fund created under this Article shall be used to help finance projects that specifically address water pollution problems and focus on upgrading surface waters, eliminating pollution, and protecting and conserving unpolluted surface waters, including urban drinking water supplies. It is the further intent of the General Assembly that moneys from the Fund also be used to build a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefits. While the purpose of this Article is to focus on the cleanup and prevention of pollution of the State's surface waters and the establishment of a network of riparian buffers and greenways, the General Assembly believes that the results of these efforts will also be beneficial to wildlife and marine fisheries habitats."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 113A‑253(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(8a)	To finance innovative efforts, including pilot projects, to improve stormwater management, to reduce pollutants entering the State's waterways, to improve water quality, and to research alternative solutions to the State's water quality problems."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 23rd day of July, 2007.

	s/	 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 10:26 p.m. this 31st day of August, 2007