A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT facilitating and encouraging THE INTERCONNECTION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS TO REGIONAL SYSTEMS WHEN NECESSARY TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH or THE ENVIRONMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 130A‑317 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(g)	The Department shall identify systems, as constructed or altered, that appear capable of interconnectivity with another system or systems located within the same river basin as set out in G.S. 143‑215.22G that appear to have adequate unallocated capacity to expand and that interconnectivity would promote public health, protect the environment, or ensure compliance with established drinking water rules. The Department shall notify the affected systems of the potential for interconnectivity in the future. The systems so notified may discuss options for potential interconnectivity, including joint operations, regionalization, or merger. The Local Government Commission shall be copied on the notice from the Department and shall assist the systems with any questions regarding liabilities of the systems and alterations to the operational structure of the systems. If the Department requests additional information or notification of the discussions on interconnectivity of a particular system, the system shall respond; failure to respond may result in denial of the system's application for construction or alteration of the system until the response is received by the Department. The Department may not require an environmental impact statement or engineering reports under this section."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administration the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year for the Regional Water Supply Planning Revolving Fund.
SECTION 3.  The Commission for Public Health shall adopt rules to implement G.S. 130A‑317, as amended by this act, by October 1, 2015.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.