Legislative maneuver

GREENSBORO AND DURHAM HIRE AN INSIDER TO WEAKEN JORDAN RULES

The NC House vote by a wide margin to approve legislation that weakens a key provision of the Jordan Lake Rules. The existing development rule requires cities in the Jordan Lake watershed to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous runoff from the existing developments. The ratified bill has been presented to Gov. Beverly Perdue and awaits her signature to become law. “It’s something we feel we can live with,” said Allan Williams, director of water resources for the city of Greensboro. “There are some considerable costs associated with the original rule. I think the way it was originally written by the [Environmental Management Commission], there was enough vague language in there that the state could have put a real hurt financially on the area. Also, it’s very likely it wouldn’t have had nearly as significant an effect on nitrogen loads as expected. It gives us time to do some monitoring, so we don’t do something that wasn’t necessary.”

Related to:existing jordan feel city some bill lake rule

The environmental community has also emerged from the political fray with a sense of accomplishment. “We feel strongly about cleaning up Jordan Lake,” said Drew Ball, lobbyist for the NC Sierra Club. “We understand that we have to find a workable solution.

We feel good about House Bill 239…. I believe that the nutrient reduction targets will be met, but what this bill does is creates some flexibility and lengthens the timeline.” Williams said that under the revised existing development rule, the city will monitor nutrient runoff from existing developments until 2017. If the city is not in compliance by then, it could be required to install or retrofit new or existing storm-water detention ponds, but the new law prohibits condemnation of property for the purpose of installing ponds.

“The main changes are lengthening the time and trigger points to start cleaning it up,” said Elaine Chiosso, executive director of the Haw River Assembly in Chatham County. “[There is] much more wiggle room for ‘let’s try this and see if it

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Nutrient runoff into Haw River tributaries such as South Buffalo Creek (above) from existing developments was at stake in recent legislative negotiations over the Jordan Lake Rules. (photos by Jordan Green)

Bill

So, if The Sierra Club, The National Wildlife Federation, The Audubon Society, and Ducks Unlimited are interested in protecting the environment , why do they continue to aid , abet and facilitate pollution of the waters of the State of North Carolina in violation on N.C. State Law. Per NC SL 246 ( aka Phase II ) SECTION 9. (a)(2) (e) “Permittees, delegated programs, and regulated entities must implement or require a fecal coliform reduction program that controls, to the maximum extent practicable, the sources of fecal coliform. “ In contravention of this law, it is a stated function of the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, The Audubon Society , and Ducks Unlimited to increase the presence of wildlife ( such as Ducks, Rabbits, Squirrels Deer, Opossums, Birds, Geese etc.) which contribute greatly to wildlife waste, and therewith produce significant amounts of fecal coliform bacterial pollution. These organizations do this by promoting and supporting the creation of Certified Wildlife Habitats or Wildlife and/or Bird Sanctuaries wherein said wildlife feed , propagate, and defecate. SL 246 is applicable to the 20 Metropolitan Counties in NC. We have requested that these organizations avoid continuing violation of the Phase II Law, and requested that they terminate previous designation of and future promotion of any areas, if any, in the 20 Counties designated as Wildlife Habitats or Sanctuaries for Wildlife and/ or Birds, and suggested that it may also be necessary to begin a program to eradicate Wildlife in the 20 Counties that have been propagated as a result of their programs, to the maximum extent practicable . They have not responeded. ( It is notable that overall, more than 85% of fecal coliform bacteria in nature is generated by wildlife, and the predominate evidence presented by the NC Division of Water Quality in urging the adoption of SL 246 was the presence of fecal coliform in waters on North Carolina in violation of Federal Standards; consequently it is incumbent on all of us to act to mitigate these sources of fecal coliform pollution as promptly as practicable. Moreover, whereas SL 246 also requires the increase of Vegetated Buffers along the riverine system of NC, which, in turn, will increase Wildlife populations and resulting fecal coliform pollution, it is all the more important for the National Associations to vigorously act to reduce Wildlife Pollution because the State is acting to increase Wildlife Pollution. ) Thank you for your support and assistance in helping keep North Carolina Waters clean. Bill Price Land Alliance of North Carolina

Legislative maneuver

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