North Carolina § 143-215 - Effluent standards or limitations.

§ 143-215. Effluent standards or limitations.

The Commission is authorized and directed to develop, adopt, modify and revoke effluent standards or limitations and waste treatment management practices as it determines necessary to prohibit, abate, or control water pollution. The effluent standards or limitations and management practices may provide, without limitation, standards or limitations or management practices for any point source or sources; standards, limitations, management practices, or prohibitions for toxic wastes or combinations of toxic wastes discharged from any point source or sources; and pretreatment standards for wastes discharged to any disposal system subject to effluent standards or limitations or management practices. The effluent standards or limitations developed and adopted by the Commission shall provide limitations upon the effluents discharged from pretreatment facilities and from outlets and point sources to the waters of the State adequate to limit the waste loads upon the waters of the State to the extent necessary to maintain or enhance the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of the waters. The management practices developed and adopted by the Commission shall prescribe practices necessary to be employed in order to prevent or reduce contribution of pollutants to the State's waters. , (d) Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 507, s. 27. Repealed by Session Laws 1997-458, s. 13.1. History (1967, c. 892, s. 1; 1971, c. 1167, s. 5; 1973, c. 821, s. 4; c. 929; c. 1262, s. 23; 1975, c. 583, s. 1; 1979, c. 633, ss. 2-4; 1987, c. 827, ss. 154, 158; 1989, c. 168, s. 48; 1991, c. 403, s. 2; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 890, s. 15; 1995, c. 507, s. 27.8(s); 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 626, s. 4; 1997-458, s. 13.1.) Water Quality in Drinking Water Supply Reservoirs. - Session Laws 2005-190, s. 1, effective July 15, 2005, provides: "Legislative findings. - The General Assembly finds that: "(1) Drinking water supply reservoirs are an essential source of water needed to meet municipal, industrial, and agricultural needs. "(2) Drinking water supply reservoirs provide recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat and, if properly managed, improve water quality. "(3) Management and protection of the quality and quantity of water in drinking water supply reservoirs are essential to the economic vitality of North Carolina. "(4) Excessive nutrients are a major source of impairment of water quality in drinking water supply reservoirs. "(5) It would be beneficial for the State to study the condition of drinking water supply reservoirs and to develop nutrient control criteria to prevent drinking water supply reservoirs from becoming impaired. "(6) It would be beneficial for the State to develop calibrated nutrient response models and nutrient management strategies to ensure that drinking water supply reservoirs that are showing evidence of impairment are protected, as envisioned by Part 1 of Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes and S.L. 1997-458, the Clean Water Responsibility and Environmentally Sound Policy Act." Session Laws 2005-190, s. 2(a), effective July 15, 2005, provides: "Study of drinking water supply reservoirs. - The Environmental Management Commission shall study the water quality in the drinking water supply reservoirs in the State to determine whether the reservoirs meet current water quality standards. The Commission shall analyze existing data and report its findings and recommendations to the Environmental Review Commission by 1 May 2006." Session Laws 2005-190, s. 2(b), effective July 15, 2005, provides: "Nutrient control criteria. - Based on the results of the study of drinking water supply reservoirs and an evaluation of current water quality standards, the Environmental Management Commission shall identify any nutrient control criteria necessary to prevent excess nutrient loading in each drinking water supply reservoir in order to protect public health and other designated uses by 1 January 2009. The Commission shall adopt final nutrient control criteria for each drinking water supply reservoir by 1 May 2010. If the Commission finds that the nutrient control criteria for any drinking water supply reservoir are not being achieved, the Commission shall develop and implement a plan for enhanced water quality monitoring in that drinking water supply reservoir within one year of the determination. The Commission shall report its progress in implementing this section, including its findings and recommendations, to the Environmental Review Commission as a part of each quarterly report it makes pursuant to G.S. 143B-282(b) ." Other Drinking Water Supply Reservoirs. - Session Laws 2005-190, s. 4, as amended by Session Laws 2006-259, s. 31(c), Session Laws 2010-180, s. 12, and Session Laws 2013-413, s. 57(dd), provides: "The Environmental Management Commission shall not make any new or increased nutrient loading allocation to any person who is required to obtain a permit under G.S. 143-215 for an individual wastewater discharge directly or indirectly into any impaired drinking water supply reservoir for which the Division of Water Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has prepared or updated a calibrated nutrient response model since 1 July 2002 until permanent rules adopted by the Commission to implement the nutrient management strategy for that reservoir become effective. The Commission shall report its progress in developing and implementing nutrient management strategies for reservoirs to which this section applies to the Environmental Review Commission by 1 April of each year beginning 1 April 2006." Session Laws 2005-190, s. 3, as amended by Session Laws 2006-259, s. 31, Session Laws 2009-486, s. 2, and Session Laws 2010-142, s. 17, provides: "(a) Applicability of section to certain reservoirs. - This section applies only to drinking water supply reservoirs that meet all of the following criteria as of 1 July 2005: "(1) The reservoir serves a population greater than 300,000 persons. "(2) The Environmental Management Commission has classified all or any part of the water in the reservoir as a nutrient sensitive water (NSW). "(3) Water quality monitoring data indicates that water quality in the reservoir violates the chlorophyll A standard "(4) The Division of Water Quality of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has not prepared or updated a calibrated nutrient response model for the reservoir since 1 July 2002. "(b) Temporary limitation on increased nutrient loading. - If the Environmental Management Commission determines either that water quality in all or in any part of a drinking water supply reservoir to which this section applies does not meet current water quality standards or that it is likely that water quality will not meet water quality standards at any time prior to 1 July 2010, the Commission shall not make any new or increased nutrient loading allocation to any person who is required to obtain a permit under G.S. 143-215 for an individual wastewater discharge directly or indirectly into that reservoir. This limitation on new or increased nutrient loading allocation shall not be construed to prohibit a person who holds a permit for a wastewater discharge into a drinking water supply reservoir from purchasing a nutrient loading allocation from another person who holds a permit for a wastewater discharge into the same drinking water supply reservoir. This subsection expires with respect to a drinking water supply reservoir when permanent rules adopted by the Commission to implement the nutrient management strategy for that reservoir become effective. "(c) Nutrient management strategy. - The Environmental Management Commission shall develop a nutrient management strategy for drinking water supply reservoirs to which this section applies by 15 January 2011. The nutrient management strategy shall be based on a calibrated nutrient response model that meets the requirement of G.S. 143-215.1(c5) . The nutrient management strategy shall include specific mandatory measures to achieve the reduction goals. In developing the nutrient management strategy, the Commission shall consider the effectiveness of measures previously implemented in the watershed and the cost of the proposed measures in relation to their effectiveness. These measures could include, but are not limited to, buffers, erosion and sedimentation control requirements, post-construction stormwater management, agricultural nutrient reduction measures, the addition of nutrient removal treatment processes to point source permitted wastewater treatment plants, the removal of point source discharging wastewater treatments through regionalization and conversion to nondischarge treatment technologies, measures to address nutrient inputs from on-site wastewater treatment systems, control of atmospheric deposition, allowing the sale and purchase of nutrient offsets, allowing trading of nutrient loading allocations and credits for nutrient reductions, and any other measures that the Commission determines to be necessary to meet the nutrient reduction goals. To the extent that one or more other State programs already mandate any of these measures, the nutrient management strategy shall incorporate the mandated measures and any extension of those measures and any additional measures that may be necessary to achieve the nutrient reduction goals. In making a nutrient loading allocation to a permit holder, the Commission shall, to the extent allowed by federal and State law, give consideration to all voluntary efforts taken by the permit holder to protect water quality prior to the development of the nutrient management strategy. "(d) Eligibility under the Clean Water Revolving Loan and Grant Act. - The definitions set out in G.S. 159G-3 apply to this subsection. The operator of a wastewater treatment works that is owned by an agency of the State may apply for a loan or grant under G.S. 159G-20 on the same basis as any other applicant if the operator is a local government unit and if the local government unit operates the wastewater treatment works pursuant to a contract with the State agency that contemplates that the local government unit will eventually acquire ownership of the wastewater treatment works. "(e) Implementation; rulemaking. - The Environmental Management Commission shall adopt permanent rules to implement the nutrient management strategies required by this section by 15 January 2011. The rules shall require that reductions in nutrient loading from all sources begin no later than five years after the rules become effective. The rules shall require that stormwater management programs to reduce nutrient loading from new development be implemented no later than 30 months after the rules become effective. "(f) Reports. - The Environmental Management Commission shall report its progress in implementing this section to the Environmental Review Commission as a part of each quarterly report it makes pursuant to G.S. 143B-282(b) . "(g) Compensatory mitigation for riparian buffer loss; nutrient offset purchases. - Compensatory mitigation for riparian buffer loss in the watershed of a drinking water supply to which this section applies must be performed in the watershed of the drinking water supply. The Environmental Management Commission may further limit the area in which compensatory mitigation for riparian buffer loss must be performed in the watershed of a drinking water supply to which this section applies. Any nutrient offset purchased to offset loading in the watershed of a drinking water supply to which this section applies may only be obtained from an offset project located in the watershed of the drinking water supply. The Environmental Management Commission may further limit the area from which nutrient offsets may be obtained in the watershed of a drinking water supply to which this section applies. "(h) Additional standards for land-disturbing activities in the water supply watershed. - For purposes of this section, 'land-disturbing activity' does not include the land-disturbing activities set out in G.S. 113A-52.01 . In addition to any other requirements of State, federal, and local law, land-disturbing activity in the watershed of the water supply reservoir to which this section applies shall meet all of the following design standards for sedimentation and erosion control: "(1) Erosion and sedimentation control measures, structures, and devices shall be planned, designed, and constructed to provide protection from the runoff of the 25-year storm that produces the maximum peak rate of runoff as calculated according to procedures set out in the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service's 'National Engineering Field Manual for Conservation Practices' or according to procedures adopted by any other agency of the State or the United States or any generally recognized organization or association. "(2) Sediment basins shall be planned, designed, and constructed so that the basin will have a settling efficiency of at least seventy percent (70%) for the 40-micron size soil particle transported into the basin by the runoff of the two-year storm that produces the maximum peak rate of runoff as calculated according to procedures in the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service's 'National Engineering Field Manual for Conservation Practices' or according to procedures adopted by any other agency of the State or the United States or any generally recognized organization or association. "(3) Newly constructed open channels shall be planned, designed, and constructed with side slopes no steeper than two horizontal to one vertical if a vegetative cover is used for stabilization unless soil conditions permit steeper slopes or where the slopes are stabilized by using mechanical devices, structural devices, or other acceptable ditch liners. In any event, the angle for side slopes shall be sufficient to restrain accelerated erosion. "(4) For an area of land-disturbing activity where grading activities have been completed, temporary or permanent ground cover sufficient to restrain erosion shall be provided as soon as practicable, but in no case later than seven days after completion of grading. For an area of land-disturbing activity where grading activities have not been completed, temporary ground cover shall be provided as follows: "a. For an area with no slope, temporary ground cover shall be provided for the area if it has not been disturbed for a period of 14 days. "b. For an area of moderate slope, temporary ground cover shall be provided for the area if it has not been disturbed for a period of 10 days. For purposes of this subdivision, 'moderate slope' means an inclined area, the inclination of which is less than or equal to three units of horizontal distance to one unit of vertical distance. "c. For an area of steep slope, temporary ground cover shall be provided for the area if it has not been disturbed for a period of seven days. For purposes of this subdivision, 'steep slope' means an inclined area, the inclination of which is greater than three units of horizontal distance to one unit of vertical distance. "(i) For purposes of this section, 'land-disturbing activity' does not include the land-disturbing activities set out in G.S. 113A-52.01 . No later than December 31, 2011, the Sedimentation Control Commission shall adopt rules for the control of erosion and sedimentation resulting from land-disturbing activities in the watershed of the water supply reservoir to which this section applies. In developing the rules, the Commission shall consider the standards established pursuant to Section 3(h), as enacted by Section 2(b) of this act. "(j) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Environmental Management Commission, shall identify improvements needed in the design, operation, and siting of septic tank systems in order to reduce excess nutrient loading from septic tank systems in the watershed of a drinking water supply to which this section applies. The Department shall report its findings and recommendations for specific changes to standards adopted by the Commission for Public Health pursuant to G.S. 130A-355 to the Commission for Public Health and to the Environmental Review Commission no later than March 1, 2010." Session Laws 2009-486, s. 4, provides in part: "Section 3(h) of S.L. 2005-190, as enacted by Section 2(b) of this act, becomes effective January 1, 2010, applies to land-disturbing activities begun on or after January 1, 2010, and expires on the date that rules adopted pursuant to Section 3(i) of S.L. 2005-190, as enacted by Section 2(b) of this act, become effective." Water Quality and Quantity in the Upper Neuse River Basin. - The preamble to Session Laws 2009-486, provides: "Whereas, that portion of the Neuse River Basin that is upstream of the Falls Dam and that includes Falls Lake is often referred to as the Upper Neuse River Basin; and "Whereas, the nine drinking water supply reservoirs in the Upper Neuse River Basin provide water for drinking, sanitation, food processing, cooling, industrial processing, and other essential uses for the citizens of Orange, Person, Durham, Granville, and Wake Counties; and "Whereas, the General Assembly enacted S.L. 1997-458, the Clean Water Responsibility and Environmentally Sound Policy Act, to protect and restore the waters of the State in 1997; and "Whereas, the General Assembly enacted S.L. 2005-190, the Clean Lakes Act, to protect and restore the drinking water supply reservoirs of the State in 2005; and "Whereas, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources listed Falls Lake in the Upper Neuse River Basin as impaired waters in 2008, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also classifies Falls Lake as impaired waters due to nutrients and turbidity; and "Whereas, the quality and quantity of the water in the nine drinking water supply reservoirs in the Upper Neuse River Basin are essential to public health, environmental quality, and the economic vitality of the region; and "Whereas, the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission may not develop a nutrient management strategy and rules to implement the nutrient management strategy for the Upper Neuse River Basin by July 1, 2009, as required by law; and "Whereas, delayed development of a nutrient management strategy and rules to implement the nutrient management strategy threatens the quality and quantity of drinking water supply reservoirs in the Upper Neuse River Basin; Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:" Session Laws 2009-486, s. 1, provides: "(a) Definition. - For purposes of this section, the term 'Upper Neuse River Basin' is that portion of the Neuse River Basin upstream of the Falls Dam, including Falls Lake. "(b) Credit for Early Adoption. - The Environmental Management Commission shall encourage local governments, landowners, and others to develop, adopt, and implement policies and practices to reduce the runoff and discharge of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and other pollutants into the surface waters and drinking water supply reservoirs in the Upper Neuse River Basin before it adopts permanent rules to implement the nutrient management strategy and the turbidity strategy for Upper Falls Lake. The Environmental Management Commission shall, in its permanent rules, provide credit for the early implementation of the nutrient management strategy for the Upper Neuse River Basin and the turbidity strategy for Falls Lake to local governments, landowners, and others who implement policies and practices after January 1, 2007, to reduce runoff and discharge of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in the Upper Neuse River Basin. "(c) Reports. - The Environmental Management Commission shall report its progress in implementing this section to the Environmental Review Commission as part of each quarterly report it makes pursuant to G.S. 143B-282(b) ." Session Laws 2012-187, s. 12.1, effective July 16, 2012, provides: "Rules adopted by the Environmental Management Commission pursuant to S.L. 2009-216 and S.L. 2009-486 to implement nutrient management strategies for the B. Everett Jordan Reservoir and the Falls of the Neuse Reservoir watersheds shall not be interpreted to apply surface water quality standards set out in 15A NCAC 2B .0218(3)(e) through (3)(h) to waters designated in the nutrient management rules as WS-V except where: (i) the designation of WS-V is associated with a water supply intake used by an industry to supply drinking water for their employees; or (ii) standards set out in 15A NCAC 02B .0218(3)(e) through (3)(h) are violated at the upstream boundary of waters within those watersheds that are classified as WS-II, WS-III, or WS-IV. This section shall not be construed to alter the nutrient reduction requirements set out in 15A NCAC 2B .0262(5) or 15A NCAC 2B .0275(3).” Jordan Lake Water Quality Improvement Demonstration Project. - Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.3A(a)-(c), provides: "(a) Jordan Lake Nutrient Mitigation Demonstration Project. - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall establish a twenty-four-month demonstration project for the management of nutrients in Jordan Lake. The demonstration project shall specifically focus on preventing and reducing harmful algal blooms and excessive chlorophyll as well providing other nutrient mitigation measures in the Haw River arm and the Morgan Creek arm of Jordan Lake. In conducting the demonstration project, the Department shall enter into a contract with a third party that can deploy floating arrays of in-lake, long-distance circulators to reduce or prevent the adverse impacts of excessive nutrient loads, such as algal blooms, taste and odor problems in drinking water, and low levels of dissolved oxygen. At a minimum, the in-lake mechanical system chosen must meet the following criteria: "(1) Floating equipment shall be capable of continuous operation on solar power only during day, night, and extended overcast conditions 365 days per year. Continuous operation shall be defined as operating a minimum of ninety-seven percent (97%) of the total hours during the course of one year on solar power without reliance on any connection to the alternating current power grid. "(2) Achieve a total flow rate through the impellers on a continuous basis for 24 hours per day of 72,000 gallons per minute in the Morgan Creek arm and 36,000 gallons per minute in the Haw River arm. "(3) The circulation equipment shall be constructed primarily of Type 316 stainless steel metal for strength and superior corrosion resistance. Each machine shall also undergo a passivation bath, also known as stainless steel pickling, to restore corrosion resistance to the welds and other areas of imperfection. "(4) The circulation equipment shall be mechanically operated by a motor that has the following characteristics: "a. Is brushless (brush motors requiring brush replacement are not acceptable). "b. Uses a direct drive with no gearbox to avoid lubrication maintenance. "c. Contains stainless steel bearings requiring no scheduled lubrication with a rated bearing life expectancy greater than 100,000 hours of continuous operation. "d. Is designed for a marine outdoor environment by having a sealed housing with polymeric encapsulated internal windings for superior corrosion resistance capable of withstanding environmental conditions of one hundred percent (100%) humidity, -40 degree to 140 degree Fahrenheit ambient temperature range, freeze resistance, condensation resistance, and splash resistance. "e. Has a 10 year or greater replacement warranty. "(5) The circulation equipment shall be supplied with a motor controller and power management with the following features: "a. An anti-jam reverse feature that is automated and self-clearing for a locked rotor triggered by high current occurrences caused by a jammed impeller. "b. Scheduled reverse cycles with daily reverse impeller cycling for self-clearing of impeller to minimize fouling. "c. Motor health status monitoring and recording that includes scheduled speed, commanded speed, actual speed, motor current, motor voltage, and motor controller errors. "d. Temperature-compensated charging so that battery charging parameters are automatically adjusted for optimum results based on battery temperature. "e. Power conservation and continued operation mode managed by a programmed algorithm for reducing motor load and continuing operation by incremental speed reduction that is automatically enabled when extended low-sunlight conditions occur or battery reserve power is reduced. "f. A NEMA 4 enclosure for protection against condensation and moisture in a marine environment with internal circuit boards that are conformal coated for added protection against moisture. "(6) The battery power storage shall be a single battery (unless multiple batteries are connected in series) to avoid charging problems and shall have the following characteristics: "a. A battery rating capacity, at a 24-hour discharge rate in watt hours, at least 50 times the motor load in watts during normal operation (full speed, peak load). "b. Is a submergible battery to avoid temperature extremes and extend battery life. "c. Complies with DOT HMR49 nonspillable battery requirements. "d. Is UL listed and compliant to UL 1989. "e. Is maintenance-free and does not require rewatering. "f. Has a temperature sensor that monitors battery housing temperature and not ambient temperature to optimize charging cycles and extend battery life. "g. Is encased in double wall plastic and mounted in a stainless steel cage for safety and battery protection purposes. "(7) The photovoltaic modules on the unit shall have the following characteristics: "a. Have a nominal wattage rating that is five times the normal operating wattage of the motor to ensure continuous operation of the motor and impeller in all seasons. "b. Are monocrystalline and not multicrystalline to ensure adequate power collection during low-sunlight conditions. "c. Are certified to UL 1703 Class C, IEC 61215, and IEC 60364 standards. "d. Have 25-year manufacturer performance warranties. "(8) The digital controller of the machine shall have the following features: "a. Flashing light-emitting diodes in the control box readily accessible by service personnel and providing continuous electrical diagnostics so the state of the power system can easily be determined. "b. Capability to store within controller memory a 30-day rolling log of all primary machine operation parameters. "(9) The machine shall have an adjustable horizontal water intake that is capable of being field adjusted to a set level below the water surface without requiring machine removal or reinstallation. The intake shall bring a one-foot thick horizontal layer of water into the machine and include a singular hose of adequate length to reach the required intake depth setting. The flow through the hose and intake shall not exceed one foot per second. "(10) The circulation equipment shall operate normally with the following maintenance features: "a. No scheduled lubrication requirements for any system component, including motor and motor bearings. "b. No brush replacement on motor, gearbox replacement, or motor replacement to be expected during a 25-year expected life of the circulation equipment. "c. No spare parts shall be required to be kept on hand. "d. The impeller assembly shall be removable without the use of tools. "e. The circulator equipment shall have a bird deterrent system to minimize bird roostings and droppings on photovoltaic modules. "(11) The flotation equipment shall have the following features and characteristics: "a. Adjustable float arms with a one-inch diameter shaft and turnbuckle to achieve optimal performance setting. The arms shall be a closed frame to minimize torsion forces on the circulation equipment and provide balanced flotation. "b. The flotation buoyancy shall be 1,350 pounds or more to support the weight of the assembled circulation equipment with a safety factor greater than 1.5. Each machine shall weigh approximately 850 pounds. "c. Flotation shall contain expanded polystyrene foam beads that are steamed together to minimize water adsorption. "d. The flotation shall not sink should the flotation encasement be punctured. Encasements shall be resistant to damage due to animals, ice, bumps by watercraft, and contact deterioration from petroleum products and should be suitable for marine use. "(12) The circulation equipment shall be capable of being held in position by either attachment to mooring blocks at the bottom of the reservoir or tethering to the shore. "Any contract entered into under this subsection shall not be subject to Article 3 or Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. Once installed, the Department shall monitor and evaluate the performance of the circulators in reducing the adverse impacts of harmful algal blooms and excessive chlorophyll and in providing other nutrient mitigation measures in the Haw River arm and the Morgan Creek arm of Jordan Lake and report the results of the monitoring and evaluation as provided in subsection (b) of this section. "(b) Report. - No later than October 1, 2015, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall submit an interim report on implementation of the demonstration project to the Environmental Review Commission and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly. No later than April 1, 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall submit a final report on implementation of the demonstration project to the Environmental Review Commission and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly. "(c) Funding. - Of the funds appropriated by this act to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, a total of one million three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,350,000) for fiscal year 2013-2014 and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for fiscal year 2014-2015 shall be transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to be used to implement the Jordan Lake Water Quality Improvement Demonstration Project. In addition, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall contribute one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for fiscal year 2014-2015 and one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for fiscal year 2015-2016 from available funds, including those appropriated by this act, to support the Department's Division of Water Resources activities to manage and carry out the project, including water sampling, water testing, and water analysis of samples in the lake and connecting creeks prior to and during the demonstration project defined in subsection (a) of this section." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.2, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause. Editor's Note. - Session Laws 1991, c. 403, s. 6 provides: "This act shall not be construed to obligate the General Assembly to make any appropriation to implement the provisions of this act. Each agency to which this act applies shall implement the provisions of this act from funds otherwise appropriated or available to that agency." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.5(b), provides: "The General Assembly finds that there is a need for timely initiation of projects authorized by this section during the biennium to expedite mitigation of impaired waters of the State. Therefore, any contract, contract extension, lease, purchase, or other agreement entered into under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of Article 3, 3D, or 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes in order to expedite deployment. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.5(a), (c), and (d) provided for funding to continue the Jordan Lake Nutrient Mitigation Demonstration Project established in Session Laws 2013-360, s. 14.3A; for an effective date delay for modification of existing or proposed rules related to basinwide nutrient management and mitigation of water quality of impaired water bodes; and for a study [due no later than April 1, 2016] of in situ strategies beyond traditional watershed controls that have the potential to mitigate water quality impairments resulting from water quality variables that impair or have the potential to impair water bodies of the State." However, Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.5(a) and (c) were repealed by Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.13(b) and further provided that: "the Department shall terminate the demonstration project authorized by that section. Any funds allocated under subsection (a) of Section 14.5 of S.L. 2015-241 that are unspent and unencumbered on the effective date of this act shall revert to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund." Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.13(j) provides: "Subsection (b) of this section becomes effective on the earlier of July 1, 2016, or the date of termination of a contract related to in situ water quality remediation strategies that was previously extended pursuant to Section 14.5 of S.L. 2015-241." Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.13(a), provides: "The General Assembly finds all of the following: "(1) It is necessary for the State to have a comprehensive management strategy to protect and improve water quality. "(2) Over the last 20 years, comprehensive watershed nutrient management strategies and buffer rules have been implemented in several river basins and watersheds in North Carolina where surface water quality has been impaired by excess nutrients. "(3) It is in the interest of the State to review the costs and benefits of existing nutrient management strategies and determine whether those nutrient management strategies should be modified in order to maintain and improve water quality in nutrient sensitive waters. "(4) The State should revise nutrient strategies to maintain proven measures already shown to be effective; incorporate new technological and management innovations; recognize investments in water quality already implemented by stakeholders; and share costs on an equitable basis." Session Laws 2016-94, s. 14.13(c)-(i), as amended by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 13.24, and as amended by Session Laws 2018-5, s. 13.8(a)-(c), provides: "(c) Of the funds appropriated to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each of the fiscal years from 2016-2017 through 2021-2022 is allocated to the Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to designate an entity to oversee a continuing study and analysis of nutrient management strategies (including in situ strategies) and compilation of existing water quality data specifically in the context of Jordan Lake and Falls Lake. As part of this study, the entity shall (i) review data collected by the Department of Environmental Quality and by other stakeholders from water sampling in areas subject to the Falls Lake or Jordan Lake Water Supply Nutrient Strategies and compare trends in water quality to the implementation of the various elements of each of the Strategies and (ii) examine the costs and benefits of basinwide nutrient strategies in other states and the impact (or lack of impact) those strategies have had on water quality. The entity shall report to the Environmental Review Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Department of Environmental Quality as set forth below: "(1) With respect to Jordan Lake, the final results of its study and recommendations for further action (including any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to implement the recommendations) no later than December 31, 2019, with interim updates no later than December 31, 2016, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2018. "(2) With respect to Falls Lake, the final results of its study and recommendations for further action (including any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to implement the recommendations) no later than December 31, 2023, with interim updates no later than December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2021. "No indirect or facilities and administrative costs shall be charged by the University against the funds allocated by this section. The Department of Environmental Quality shall provide all necessary data and staff assistance as requested by the entity for the duration of the study required by this subsection. The Department shall also designate from existing positions an employee to serve as liaison between the Department and the entity to facilitate communication and handle data requests for the duration of the project. "(d) As part of the periodic review and readoption of rules required by G.S. 150B-21.3 A, the Environmental Management Commission shall, based on the study required by subsection (c) of this section and any monitoring or modeling study conducted pursuant to existing regulations as defined in this section, review the following Nutrient Strategies: "(1) The Falls Water Supply Nutrient Strategy, 15A NCAC 2B.0275 through .0282 and .0315. "(2) The Jordan Lake Water Supply Nutrient Strategy, 15A NCAC 2B.0263 through .0273 and .0311. "(3) Any changes to these regulations imposed by acts of the General Assembly. "The schedule set forth in this subsection shall modify the review and readoption schedule set by the Rules Review Commission under G.S. 150B-21.3 A to the extent the schedules conflict. No later than December 31, 2016, the Department of Environmental Quality shall report to the Environmental Review Commission a list of any other rules and any acts of the General Assembly changing the rules identified in this subsection, and the Environmental Management Commission's review shall include the rules identified in this section and in that report. As part of its rule review process, the Environmental Management Commission shall (i) hold public hearings in the upstream and downstream portions of the Falls Lake and Jordan Lake river basins and subbasins and (ii) no later than December 31, 2016, convene a stakeholder working group that represents all classes of users and all geographic parts of the impacted river basins and subbasins and that will provide input to the Environmental Management Commission regarding the revision to the Nutrient Strategies. The Environmental Management Commission shall begin rule readoption for the Jordan Lake Water Supply Nutrient Strategy on the earlier of the following: (i) upon receipt of the completed study and final recommendations prepared in response to subsection (c) of this section and any monitoring or modeling study conducted pursuant to existing regulations for nutrient management in Jordan Lake or (ii) December 31, 2020. The Environmental Management Commission shall begin rule readoption for the Falls Water Supply Nutrient Strategy on the earlier of the following: (i) upon receipt of the completed study and final recommendations prepared in response to subsection (c) of this section and any monitoring or modeling study conducted pursuant to existing regulations for nutrient management in Falls Lake or (ii) December 31, 2024. For purposes of the G.S. 150B-21.3 A readoption process, the Nutrient Strategies shall be considered 'necessary with substantive public interest.' "(e) The Department of Environmental Quality shall study alternative technologies for in situ approaches to nutrient management in Falls Lake and Jordan Lake. In its study, the Department shall consider in situ treatments, including algaecide and phosphorus-locking technologies, that have been certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for use in drinking water sources. Of the funds appropriated in this act to the Department of Environmental Quality, the sum of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) for the 2016-2017 fiscal year may be used only for permitting and implementation of a trial of these technologies. The Department shall begin any testing or sampling activities required to support permit applications for the trial by September 1, 2017. Any contract entered into under this subsection shall not be subject to Article 3 or Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. The study shall determine whether these treatments would provide improvements in water quality. The Department shall submit an interim report no later than September 1 of each year the study and trial required by this section are ongoing, and a final report no later than December 31, 2010, to the Environmental Review Commission, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division. If the Department finds these strategies to be effective, it shall incorporate them into the Nutrient Strategies readoption required by subsection (d) of this section. Funds allocated by this subsection shall remain available until the conclusion of the study, and any funds unused at that time shall revert to the General Fund. "(f) Impervious surface added in a city or county within the Jordan Lake watershed after July 26, 2013, and prior to December 31, 2020, shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law or associated regulations adopted by the Environmental Management Commission, not be counted as built-upon area for purposes of a city's or county's calculation of nutrient loading targets under a Development Stormwater Rule. Pursuant to G.S. 153A-145.6 and G.S. 160A-205.1 , cities and counties shall not enforce Development Stormwater Rules through any ordinance, code, standard, committed element, condition, or contractual obligation imposed by, agreed upon, or accepted by a county or city. For purposes of this subdivision, 'Development Stormwater Rule' shall mean 15A NCAC 2B.0265 (Stormwater Management for New Development) and 15A NCAC 2B.0266 (Stormwater Management for Existing Development), or equivalent or more stringent ordinance, code, standard, or committed element related to nutrient-loading targets in the Jordan Lake watershed. "(g) The Department of Environmental Quality shall study the following issues related to nutrient impact fees and other water quality impact mitigation programs in Jordan Lake and Falls Lake: "(1) The impact, costs, and benefits of setting nutrient offset fees on a subbasin- or area-specific basis, together with an estimate of the subbasin-specific nutrient offset fees for each subbasin in the Jordan Lake and Falls Lake watersheds or area draining to a particular arm of Jordan Lake or Falls Lake. "(2) Watersheds and river basins or subbasins where private providers of mitigation services are adequately serving existing and projected demand over the next five years, and whether (i) the continuing provision of mitigation services by the State in those areas is necessary and (ii) statutory authority to provide mitigation services in those areas should be totally or partially repealed. "The Department shall report no later than December 1, 2016, to the Environmental Review Commission, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division regarding the results and recommendations from its study and any suggested legislation necessary to implement the recommendations. "(h) The rules described below shall not take effect and are subject to the review and readoption required by subsection (d) of this section: "(1) With respect to the Jordan Lake rules, as defined by subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (d) of this section, any rules with effective dates after July 1, 2016. Rules delayed under this subdivision will have the effective date specified in the rules as readopted under subsection (d) of this section. "(2) With respect to the Falls Lake rules, as defined by subdivisions (1) and (3) of subsection (d) of this section, any rules with effective dates between the effective date of this act and October 15, 2022, provided that provisions of the Falls Lake rules which establish Stage I reduction actions and goals shall remain in effect until the Falls Lake rules, as modified under subsection (d) of this section, become effective. The due dates for reduction actions and goals set to be completed by December 31, 2020, and the reduction actions and goals identified as Stage II in the Falls Lake rules are delayed until the Falls Lake rules, as modified under subsection (d) of this section, become effective. "(i) Stormwater treatment practices that have been approved by the Chesapeake Bay Commission for TMDL compliance in the Chesapeake Bay watershed shall be allowed for TMDL compliance in the Jordan Lake and Falls Lake watersheds at the same pollutant removal efficiency value established for each such practice for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Department shall report no later than December 1, 2016, to the Environmental Review Commission, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division on the need and desirability of establishing State-specific pollutant removal efficiency values for the stormwater treatment practices allowed by this subsection. If the Department decides to establish State-specific values, it shall incorporate those values into the Nutrient Strategies readoption required by subsection (d) of this section." Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.'" Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2016-2017 fiscal year." Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.'" Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2018-5, s. 13.8(d), (e), provides: "(d) Notwithstanding Section 27.5 of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by Section 10.4 of S.L. 2017-57, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory is authorized to use for the purposes set forth in this subsection no more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2018-2019 fiscal year of the funds appropriated for the 2016-2017 fiscal year to the Office of State Budget and Management, Special Appropriations, and allocated to the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for use as matching funds by the Collaboratory. Notwithstanding Section 27.5 of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by Section 10.4 of S.L. 2017-57, no match is required for funds reallocated by this subsection. "The Collaboratory shall use these funds to create an updated quantitative model of Jordan Lake and the Haw River subbasin of the Cape Fear River based on the nutrient management study funded by Section 14.13(c) of S.L. 2016-94. The funds may also be utilized for personnel costs, data acquisition, and software licensing related to the model update project funded by this subsection, but the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall not charge for overhead costs against the funds reallocated by this subsection. Funds reallocated by this subsection shall not revert but shall continue to be available to the Collaboratory for the purposes described in this subsection. "(e) In the report required by Section 14.13(c) of S.L. 2016-94, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the Collaboratory shall present the results of the model authorized by subsection (d) of this section, along with (i) recommendations for revisions or additions to the Jordan Lake Water Supply Nutrient Strategy and (ii) identification and analysis of issues and areas identified by its study and model where no scientific consensus exists or where data is unavailable or incomplete." Session Laws 2020-18, s. 15(a)-(d), provides: "(a) Notwithstanding 15A NCAC 02B .0701 (Nutrient Strategies Definitions), 15A NCAC 02B .0703 (Nutrient Offset Credit Trading), and 15A NCAC 02B .0713 (Neuse Nutrient Strategy: Wastewater Discharge Requirements), nutrient offset credits shall be applied to a wastewater permit by applying the TMDL transport factor to the permitted wastewater discharge and to the nutrient offset credits. "(b) Subsection (a) of this section applies only to wastewater discharge permit applications for a local government located in the Neuse River Basin with a customer base of fewer than 15,000 connections. "(c) No later than August 1, 2020, the Department of Environmental Quality, in conjunction with affected parties, shall begin the modeling necessary to determine new transport zones and delivery factors for the Neuse River Basin for point source discharges and nutrient offset credits. Once the Department has completed the modeling, the Environmental Management Commission shall use the modeling and other information provided during the public comment period to adopt new transport zones and delivery factors by rule. The Environmental Management Commission may adopt temporary rules to implement this section. "(d) This section is effective when it becomes law. Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall expire when the rule required by subsection (c) of this section becomes effective." Session Laws 2020-18, s. 16(a), is a severability clause. Legal Periodicals. - For survey of 1979 administrative law, see 58 N.C.L. Rev. 1185 (1980). For comment, "Chlorofluorocarbon and Its Effects on the Ozone Layer: Is Legislation Sufficient to Protect the Environment?," see 19 N.C. Cent. L.J. 88 (1990). For article, "Coastal Management Law in North Carolina: 1974-1994," see 72 N.C.L. Rev. 1413 (1994).