North Carolina § 143B-135 - 272. Access to information; fees.

§ 143B-135. 272. Access to information; fees.

The Secretary may establish fees to defray the costs associated with any of the following: Responding to inquiries requiring customized environmental review services or the costs associated with developing, improving, or maintaining technology that supports an online interface for external users to access Natural Heritage Program data. The Secretary may reduce or waive the fee established under this subsection if the Secretary determines that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. Any activity authorized under G.S. 143B-135.234(10), including an inventory of natural areas conducted under the Natural Heritage Program, conservation and protection planning, and informational programs for owners of natural areas, as defined in G.S. 143B-135.254. Fees collected under this section are receipts of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and shall be deposited in the special fund for the purpose of supporting the operations of the Natural Heritage Program. History (2014-100, s. 14.13A(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(k2), (r2); 2020-78, s. 8.3(a).) Editor's Note. - Former G.S. 113A-164.12 was recodified as G.S. 143B-135.272 by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(k2), effective July 1, 2015. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.'" Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2020-78, s. 22.1, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2020-78, s. 22.3, is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(r2), effective July 1, 2015, in subdivision (a)(2), substituted "G.S. 143B-135.234(10)" for "G.S. 113A-253(8c)" and substituted "G.S. 143B-135.254" for "G.S. 113A-164.3"; and substituted "Department of Natural and Cultural Resources" for "Department of Environment and Natural Resources" in subsection (b). Session Laws 2020-78, s. 8.3(a), effective July 1, 2020, substituted "special fund" for "Clean Water Management Trust Fund" in subsection (b).