A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the permitting and construction of terminal groins at inlets under certain conditions.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 113A‑115.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113A‑115.1.  Limitations on erosion control structures.
(a)	As used in this section:
(1)	"Erosion control structure" means a breakwater, bulkhead, groin, jetty, revetment, seawall, or any similar structure.
(1a)	"Estuarine shoreline" means all shorelines that are not ocean shorelines that border estuarine waters as defined in G.S. 113A‑113(b)(2).
(2)	"Ocean shoreline" means the Atlantic Ocean, the oceanfront beaches, and frontal dunes. The term "ocean shoreline" includes an ocean inlet and lands adjacent to an ocean inlet but does not include that portion of any inlet and lands adjacent to the inlet that exhibits characteristics of estuarine shorelines.
(3)	"Terminal groin" means a structure that is constructed on the side of an inlet at the terminus of an island generally perpendicular to the shoreline to limit or control sediment passage into the inlet channel.
(b)	No person shall construct a permanent erosion control structure in an ocean shoreline. The Commission shall not permit the construction of a temporary erosion control structure that consists of anything other than sandbags in an ocean shoreline. This section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1)	Any permanent erosion control structure that is approved pursuant to an exception set out in a rule adopted by the Commission prior to July 1, 2003.
(2)	Any permanent erosion control structure that was originally constructed prior to July 1, 1974, and that has since been in continuous use to protect an inlet that is maintained for navigation.
(3)	Any terminal groin permitted pursuant to this section.
(b1)	This section shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Commission to adopt rules to designate or protect areas of environmental concern, to govern the use of sandbags, or to govern the use of erosion control structures in estuarine shorelines.
(c)	The Commission may renew a permit for an erosion control structure issued pursuant to a variance granted by the Commission prior to July 1, 1995. The Commission may authorize the replacement of a permanent erosion control structure that was permitted by the Commission pursuant to a variance granted by the Commission prior to July 1, 1995 if the Commission finds that: (i) the structure will not be enlarged beyond the dimensions set out in the original permit; (ii) there is no practical alternative to replacing the structure that will provide the same or similar benefits; and (iii) the replacement structure will comply with all applicable laws and with all rules, other than the rule or rules with respect to which the Commission granted the variance, that are in effect at the time the structure is replaced.
(d)	Any rule that prohibits permanent erosion control structures shall not apply to terminal groins permitted pursuant to this section.
(e)	In addition to the requirements of Part 4 of Article 7 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes, an applicant for a permit for the construction of a terminal groin shall submit all of the following to the Commission:
(1)	Information to demonstrate that structures or infrastructure are imminently threatened by erosion and nonstructural approaches to erosion control, including relocation of threatened structures, are impractical.
(2)	An environmental impact statement that satisfies the requirements of G.S. 113A‑4.
(3)	A list of property owners and local governments that may be affected by the construction of the proposed terminal groin and its accompanying beach fill project and proof that the property owners and local governments have been notified of the application for construction of the terminal groin and its accompanying beach fill project.
(4)	A plan for the construction and maintenance of the terminal groin and its accompanying beach fill project prepared by a professional engineer licensed to practice pursuant to Chapter 89C of the General Statutes and reviewed by an independent third‑party professional engineer licensed to practice pursuant to Chapter 89C of the General Statutes. 
(5)	A plan for the management of the inlet and the estuarine and ocean shorelines immediately adjacent to and under the influence of the inlet. The inlet management plan shall do all of the following relative to the terminal groin and its accompanying beach fill project:
a.	Describe the post‑construction activities that the applicant will undertake to monitor the impacts on coastal resources.
b.	Define the baseline for assessing any adverse impacts and the thresholds for when the adverse impacts must be mitigated.
c.	Provide for mitigation measures to be implemented if adverse impacts reach the thresholds defined in the plan.
d.	Provide for modification or removal of the terminal groin if the adverse impacts cannot be mitigated.
(6)	Proof of financial assurance, in the form of a bond, insurance policy, escrow account, or other financial instrument, that is adequate to cover the cost of:
a.	Long‑term maintenance and monitoring of the terminal groin.
b.	Implementation of mitigation measures as provided in the inlet management plan.
c.	Modification or removal of the terminal groin as provided in the inlet management plan.
d.	Restoration of public, private, or public trust property if the groin has an adverse impact on the environment or property.
(f)	The Commission shall issue a permit for the construction of a terminal groin if the Commission finds no grounds for denying the permit under G.S. 113A‑120 and the Commission finds all of the following:
(1)	The applicant has complied with all of the requirements of subsection (e) of this section.
(2)	The applicant has demonstrated that structures or infrastructure are imminently threatened by erosion and that nonstructural approaches to erosion control, including relocation of threatened structures, are impractical.
(3)	The terminal groin will be accompanied by a concurrent beach fill project to prefill the groin.
(4)	Construction and maintenance of the terminal groin will not result in significant adverse impacts to private property or to the public recreational beach. In making this finding, the Commission shall take into account mitigation measures, including the accompanying beach fill project, that will be incorporated into the project design and construction and the inlet management plan.
(5)	The inlet management plan is adequate for purposes of monitoring the impacts of the proposed terminal groin and mitigating any adverse impacts identified as a result of the monitoring.
(6)	Except to the extent expressly modified by this section, the project complies with State guidelines for coastal development adopted by the Commission pursuant to G.S. 113A‑107.
(g)	Only one terminal groin may be placed on each ocean shoreline immediately adjacent to an inlet for a maximum of two groins per inlet."
SECTION 2.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall amend the management program it adopted pursuant to the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1451, et seq., to ensure the management program is consistent with G.S. 113A‑115.1, as amended by Section 1 of this act, and shall seek approval of the proposed amended management plan by the United States Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary's authorized designee no later than six months after the effective date of this act.
SECTION 3.  The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this act.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.