March 11 WQC Agenda

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA

 March 11, 2015
Archdale Building-Ground Floor Hearing Room
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

General Statute § 138A-15 mandates that the Chairman inquire as to whether any member knows of any known conflict of interest or appearance of conflict with respect to matters before the Environmental Management Commission’s Water Quality Committee (WQC). If any member knows of a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, please so state at this time.

Steve Tedder, Chairman Presiding

I. Preliminary Matters

1. Approval of Summary for January 7, 2015 WQC meeting (attached).

II. Agenda Items

1.Request for Approval to Send the Final Draft of the Tar-Pamlico River Basin Water Resources Plan to the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) for Approval – (Action Item) (Heather Patt)

General Statute 143-215(b) and General Statute 143-355(m) mandates the development of a basinwide water quality management plan for each of the seventeen river basins in the State and a State water supply plan, respectively.  Staff will present highlights from data included in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin Water Resources Plan developed in 2014.  The 2014 Plan is the fifth update of the Tar-Pamlico Basin Plan and the first to include both water quality and water quantity information. (Attachments enclosed:Tar-Pamlico Plan Statute Checklist, link to Tar-Pamlico River Basin Water Resources Plan website:http://www.ncwater.org/basins/Tar-Pamlico/index.php and PowerPoint presentation)

2. Request to Proceed to the Environmental Management Commission to Request Approval of Amendments to 15A NCAC 02B .0269 and 15A NCAC 02B .0274 to transfer to 15A NCAC Subchapter 02R  per 26 NCAC 02C .0408  - (Action Item) (Jeff Manning)

As part of the Periodic Rules Review Process, staff propose to transfer 15A NCAC 02B .0269 Riparian Buffer Mitigation Fees to the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program and 15A NCAC 02B .0274 Nutrient Offset Payment Rates for the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program to Subchapter 02R under a new Section .0600.  This transfer would facilitate the use of the Administrative Code such that the fee schedules for funds administered by the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) are in the Subchapter that establishes the NCEEP and its funds, fee schedules and processes. The proposed amendments in 15A NCAC 02B .0269 serve solely to correctly reference the rules’ citations to maintain accuracy after they are transferred pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.5 (a)(3). (Attachments enclosed: Proposed amendments to 15A NCAC 02B .0269 and .0274 rules). 

3. Update on Minimum Design Criteria for Stormwater Control  –  (Information Item) (Annette Lucas)

Session Law 2013-82 (House Bill 480) requires the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to convene a Minimum Design Criteria (MDC) Team that includes industry experts, engineers, environmental consultants, university faculty and other stakeholders.  The purposes of the MDC Team are:

  1. To consult with DENR in developing MDC that encompass all requirements for siting, design, construction and maintenance of stormwater BMPs. The MDC shall be developed with the goal of generating state stormwater permits that comply with water quality standards.  DENR shall submit its recommendations to the Environmental Review Commission by February 1, 2015. 
  2. To consult with the EMC in developing a fast-track permitting process for issuing state stormwater permits without a technical review when all BMPs comply with all MDCs and the permit application is prepared by a qualified individual. The EMC shall adopt a fast-track permitting rule no later than July 1, 2016.

The stakeholder team met the February 1, 2015 deadline for completion of the MDC.  Staff will summarize the design changes brought about by the MDC for each of the stormwater control measures.  Staff will also present DEMLR’s plan for allowing applicants to begin using the MDC on a voluntary basis. (Attachments enclosed: DEMLR Final Report Stormwater Minimum Design Criteria, MDC Public Notice, and PowerPoint presentation)

4. Overview of the Water Supply Watershed Program – (Information Item) (Julie Ventaloro)

Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources staff will provide an overview of the state’s Water Supply Watershed Protection Program, including history, classification process, current requirements, and compliance. (Attachments enclosed: PowerPoint presentation)

III. Closing Comments   Chairman Tedder

This agenda is available on the internet at /about/divisions/water-resources/environmental-management-commission/meetings-agendas-minutes/2015/march-11-wqc-agenda