North Carolina SB 999: Develop Regional Water Supplies.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2003
S 1
SENATE BILL 999

Short Title: Develop Regional Water Supplies. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Shaw.
Referred to: Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.
April 3, 2003

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY TO 2
ASSIST CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MOORE COUNTY, THE CITY OF 3
SHELBY, THE CITY OF STATESVILLE, AND CERTAIN OTHER DROUGHT 4
STRICKEN COMMUNITIES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING OF 5
REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS, TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF 6
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN 7
ENGINEERING STUDY AND REPORT OF A PROPOSED DAM AND 8
RESERVOIR TO BE LOCATED ON THE CAPE FEAR RIVER IN 9
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF 10
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO APPLY FOR A GRANT 11
TO FUND THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION OF 12
REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS. 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
SECTION 1. Chapter 162A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a 15
new article to read: 16
"Article 2A. 17
"Regional Water Supply Authority. 18
"§ 162A-24.1. Regional Water Supply Authority. 19
There is created within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the 20
Regional Water Supply Authority. The purpose of the Authority is to assist with the 21
development and funding of regional water supply systems that shall serve the areas of 22
Cumberland County, Moore County, the City of Shelby, the City of Statesville, and any 23
other area of the State that the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources has 24
certified either has a serious public health hazard related to the water supply system, or 25
that a drought emergency is present or imminent in the community. Priority designation 26
for any State funding available for water supply planning, development, or construction 27
shall be given to the local governments assisted by the Regional Water Supply 28
Authority. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of 29

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2003
Page 2 Senate Bill 999-First Edition
Health and Human Services, the Department of Administration, the Department of 1
Commerce, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall notify the 2
Authority when State or federal funds are available for the development of regional 3
water supplies to ensure that the local governments served by the Authority are 4
provided priority with regard to possible funding sources. The Regional Water Supply 5
Authority shall also assist in fulfilling the functions set out in G.S. 162A-23 for the local 6
governments identified in this section." 7
SECTION 2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall, 8
pursuant to G.S. 143-355(b), conduct an engineering study and report of a proposed 9
water resources project consisting of constructing and establishing a dam and reservoir 10
to be located on the Cape Fear River in Cumberland County for the purpose of 11
establishing a regional public drinking water supply. The Department shall develop for 12
budget and planning purposes estimates of the costs of the proposed project. The 13
Department shall request the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to apply to the 14
Congress of the United States for appropriations for this water resources development 15
project. 16
SECTION 3. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall 17
apply for a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund under Article 13A of 18
Chapter 113 of the General Statutes to assist local governments served by the Regional 19
Water Supply Authority to plan, develop, and construct regional water supply systems. 20
SECTION 4. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall 21
use available funds for the study and report under Section 2 of this act and to apply for 22
the grant under Section 3 of this act. 23
SECTION 5. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall 24
use any State or federal funds available for water resources development projects to 25
assist in constructing and establishing regional water supply systems for local 26
governments served by the Regional Water Supply Authority. 27
SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law. 28