The governor has signed recently passed bill to dramatically overhaul North Carolina’s shellfish leasing program creates new shellfish enterprise areas and establishes three large-scale leases in Pamlico Sound.
A version of a bill to restrict where wind energy development may happen in North Carolina that had stalled earlier this session passed the Senate this week but may undergo another revision.
Legislation authorizing expanded shellfish leasing in state waters advanced this week in the N.C. General Assembly, giving hope for success after a similar bill failed last year.
A big difference in the Senate’s version of the state budget and the House’s and governor’s proposals is how it addresses emerging contaminants such as polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The Senate released Tuesday its $24 billion, two-year spending plan, with big differences from the House and Cooper budgets that include environmental programs and DEQ funding.
Farm Act of 2019, which focuses on hemp industry regulations, but could loosen swine operation construction and upgrade requirements, will go before the Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee next week.
Senate Bill 434 requiring the merger of the Bay River Metropolitan Sewerage District, which serves about 3,000 customers in Pamlico County, and the West Bay River system, which serves about 300 customers, would go into effect Oct. 1 if approved.
Sen. Harry Brown says he plans to bring back legislation that stalled earlier this session that would make nearly the entire N.C. coast off limits to wind energy development.
Both the House and Senate are set this week to consider bills that advanced before last week’s crossover deadline, including a number of controversial environmental measures.
The House’s version of the state budget includes new spending on disaster relief and recovery and resiliency plans, but DEQ funding to address emerging contaminants comes up short.
