Take action on NC Coastal Stormwater Rules

Submitted by loftT on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 12:24pm.

Coastal Stormwater Rules need tightening

Polluted runoff - also called "stormwater" is our state's biggest water quality problem. When it rains, water runs off the land or hard surfaces like roads and rooftops, and into creeks, rivers and lakes. Along the way, the water picks up various pollutants, such as oil, soap, sediment, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizer, and other toxics. Stormwater rushing through storm sewer drains, empties directly into creeks and streams and physically scours stream banks; this causes erosion which fills up stream channels with dirt and leads to flooding downstream.

Current regulations give developers an easy out.

Development – the building of impervious surfaces such as roads and rooftops - is a major cause of stormwater pollution. One of the most effective ways to control stormwater pollution is to capture the runoff and treat it before it reaches streams and rivers. The current coastal stormwater regulations, however, only require stormwater controls on about a quarter of developments - those that are considered “high density.” High density is defined as a development where the impervious surface (roads, rooftops, driveways) is more than 25% of the land area of the development. Developers who build “low density” projects and keep the impervious surface under 25% don’t have to install stormwater controls.

Please follow this easy to use link from North Carolina Conservation Network:

ncconservationnetwork.org

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loftT's picture

Also, some highlights from the Sierra club's agenda

Submitted by loftT on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 12:52pm.

Note the work they will be doing on S.B. 599 Inlet Stabilization

In the short session, which reconvenes on May 13, we will seize the opportunity to respond to the state’s ongoing water woes by lobbying to make water conservation and efficiency more than just a drought response. We’ll support passage of legislation to modernize water systems and mandate conservation. We believe that commercial water consumption should be public information and that large private water users, including the agricultural sector, should publicly report their water use.

This summer we will also take steps toward our goal of ensuring North Carolina cars are clean with the adoption of tailpipe emission standards that include carbon controls. We’ll need your help on defensive fights as well. The state’s long standing seawall ban on our coasts is threatened, and we will work to prevent S.B. 599 Inlet Stabilization Pilot Project from becoming law. We’ll make inroads toward forward-looking transportation policy by advocating for smart growth, multi-rider transit and rail options as the state starts to tackle the backlog of transportation challenges this year and in future sessions.

Sign up for
Sierra Club Lobbying Day on Tuesday, June 24th, and talk to legislators about issues important to you.

Progressive Democrats of North Carolina

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Blackwater


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TrueMeckDem on Myers Park Pat

"My opinion of Pat has changed over the years. I used to think he was truly a man of the people but the longer he has been mayor, the less I think of him.

As with most cities, Charlotte has three political parties: Dem, Rep, and Chamber of Commerce. Pat is definitely the puppet of the COC here. What is good for business is good for Charlotte and Pat ... very personable guy, he has gotten a bunch of Dems in these parts to vote for him but I don't trust him."

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