Legislative Summaries [from Conservation Council of NC]
H838 Ban Incandescent Light Bulbs
This legislation would prohibit the sale of general service incandescent light bulbs in the state. Support.
H1134 Cleanup of Abandoned Manufactured Homes
This legislation would protect public health and the environment by encouraging counties to develop plans for deconstructing abandoned manufactured homes and removing reusable or recyclable components. The legislation would impose an environmental remediation tax on the sale of new and used manufactured homes to fund the deconstruction of abandoned manufactured homes. Support.
H1154 Oak Island/Erosion Setback Line
This legislation, which applies to the Town of Oak Island, alters setback rules in cases of beaches that have undergone renourishment programs. Altering the setback rules undermines sound planning principles and prudent coastal management rules that have been in place for some time. Oppose.
H1179/S1307 Clean Cars Program/Funds
This legislation would establish North Carolina's low emission vehicle program. Support.
H1611 Stormwater Requirements' cost to County/City
This legislation requires the ERC to prepare and submit a fiscal note to the county or city detailing the costs of meeting post-construction stormwater management standards. Oppose.
H1834 Local Government Economic Impact
This legislation expands the Local Government Fiscal Information Act to require an economic impact statement (EIS) rather than just a fiscal note, similar to the EIS used in the rulemaking process. This act effectively alters the procedures for all parties of local governments who expect to experience substantial economic impacts (of at least $3 million in a 12-month period) from the costs of meeting State regulations and rules. Oppose.
H1889 Present Use Value System Modifications
This legislation would provide property tax relief to landowners who manage their lands for wildlife and other conservation benefits. The House passed H1889 by an overwhelming vote in the 2007 session. This bill awaits the Senate's ruling. Support.
H1997 Economic Impact/Regulatory Legislation
This legislation would require economic impact statements (EIS) for all bills proposing regulatory changes, similar to he fiscal notes agencies must prepare during the rule making process. Oppose.
H2138/S1967 Disapprove Coastal Stormwater Rule
This legislation which would disapprove existing stormwater regulations in coastal counties. Oppose.
H2499 / S1879 Drought/Water Management Recommendations
This legislation requires that surface and groundwater withdrawls and transfers (between river basins) of greater than or equal to 100,000 gallons per day be registered with the Environmental Management Commission. Support.
H2506 Sedimentation Ctrl/Local Gov't Envorcement
This legislation would clarify the process for appeals from civil penalties assed by a local government that have established and approved erosion and sedimentation control programs. In keeping with a recommendation by the Environmental Review Commission, this legislation would provide local governments with such programs to issue stop work orders. Support.
H2526 Motor Vehicle Emissions Study
This legislation would direct the Environmental Review Commission, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to study the costs and benefits--economic and environmental--of adopting the California motor vehicle emissions standards for the State. This act further directs that a report of findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals be submitted by 1 April 2009. Support.
H2675 Adopt-A-Trail Funds
This legislation would increase the funds for the Adopt-a-Trail Program within the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources by $892,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Support.
H2709 No Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
This legislation would prohibit any public utility that operates a coal-fired generating unit in the State to generate electricity from purchasing or using coal extracted by mountaintop removal coal mining. This bill provides for cost recovery and appropriates funds for any utility's incremental costs of purchasing or using coal extracted by some method other than mountaintop removal coal mining. Support.
H2710 Income Tax Credit - Energy-Efficient Homes
This legislation would provide an income tax credit for builders of: state-certified energy-efficient homes, under the NC Healthy Build Homes Program, of $2,000; or the federally qualified energy-efficient home under the ENERGY STAR Program of $1,000. Support.
H2718 N.C. Green Business Fund
This legislation would change the NC Green Business Fund from a grant-making fund to a no-interest loan-making fund and would appropriate funds to the Department of Commerce for this purpose. Support.
H2720 Energy-Efficient State Motor Vehicle Fleets
This legislation would require every new passenger motor vehicle transferred to or purchasaed by the Department of Administration or by the Department of Transportation to have a fuel economy rating, as set by the U.S. EPA for the new vehicle's model year, in the top 10 percent for its class of vehicles. Support.
S215 Litter Reduction
This legislation would reduce roadside and other littering, as well as encouraging recycling by requiring a deposit on beverage containers and requiring redemption centers to accept returned beverage containers and refund the deposits. Support.
S273 Funds for Sylvan Heights Water Fowl Park
This legislation would provide funds ($150,000) for the construction of Phase II of the Sylvan Heights Water Fowl and Eco-center in Scotland Neck. Support.
S396 Clarify EMC and DENR Authority
This legislation would limit the authority of DENR and EMC to impose conditions on their approval of permits. Oppose.
S505 Income Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Homes
This legislation would provide an Income Tax Credit for the building or improvement o fenergy efficient homes. Support.
S569 Wildlife Conservation Property Tax Relief
This legislation would provide property tax relief from qualified wildlife conservtion land. Support.
S599 Inlet Stabilization Pilot Program
This legislation would allow the construction of permanent seawalls or groins on the coastline as part of a pilot program to evaluate their effectiveness. Oppose.
S927/H1073 Green School Construction Loan Fund/Program
This legislation would create the green school construction revolving loan fund to be used for no interest loans to local boards of education for certain energy related construction, commissioning, and installation projects. It would also establish the green school construction program, a voluntary program for the construction or major renovation of high performance school buildings. Support.
S967/H1600 NC Organic Economic Opportunities Study
This legislation would ensure that economic market research is conducted for the expansion and development of organic agriculture production, marketing and business enterprises in the State. Support.
S1522/H990 Land & Water Conservation Bond Act of 2007
This legislation authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State, subject to a vote of the qualified voters of the State, to address statewide needs regarding land conservation, water quality protection, historic preservation, and job creation. Support.
S1553 Recyling Discarded Computer Equipment
This legislation would the establish the North Carolina Producer Responsibility Program for the recycling of discarded computer equipment. Support.
S1597 Cary Energy Efficiency Incentive
This legislation authorizes Cary to provide land-use development incentives for reductions in energy consumption. Once passed into law, this legislation would apply to the cities of Asheville, Charlotte, and Wilmington, and the towns of Carrboro, Cary, and Chapel Hill. Support.
S1871/H2526 Motor Vehicle Emissions Study
This legislation directs the ERC to consult with DENR to conduct a cost-benefit of adopting the higher California motor vehicle emissions stands in the State. Support.
S1894/H2363 Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund
This legislation, recommended by the 21st Century transportation committee, would establish a congestion relief and intermodal transportation fund, providing for the allocation of these funds to local governments and transportation authorities for transportation purposes. Such benifits and services would include short line railroads; railroads for intermodal facilities, multimodal facilities and inland ports; improvements on existing rail lines to ports and military installations; and expand intercity passenger rail service, especially among three urban regions,a llowing other local governments similar local transit funding options. Support.
S1930 State Park System Additions
This legislation, following an ERC recommendation, authorizes the addition of Bear Paw State Natural Area and Yellow Mountain State Natural area to the NC State Park System. Support.
S1933 Amend Environmental Laws 2008
This legislation, following ERC recommendations, adjusts environmental and natural resource laws to provide that drinking water wells be tested for additional parameters such as benzene, methyl tert-butyl or isopropyl ether, benzene, toluene, and other similar compounds. Support.
S1946 Codify Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings
This legislation, following ERC recommendations, codifies energy efficiency and water use standards used for major facility construction or renovation projects to state, university, or community college buildings in order to reduce water and energy consumption. Support.
S1959 Water Resource Management Funds
This legislation would secure funds for NC's regional councils to develop and implement water resource management programs which address water quality issues which extend beyond local governmental boundaries. Support.
SJ1987 ERC Study Offshore Drilling For Energy Needs
This legislation would authorize the ERC to study the desireability of encouraging offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural gas in coastal waters with in the State's jurisdiction. This feasibility study would have to address whether the State could urge U.S. Congress to pass new federal legislation which would try to lift a federal moratoria on offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural gas within federal jurisdiction. Oppose.
S2035 North Carolina Sea Grant Funding
This legislation would secure $750,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for NC State University's NC Sea Grant Program. Support.
S2077 Stock Assessments of Marine Fish
This legislation would secure $100,000 worth of state funds for NC State University for marine fish stock assessments. Support.
The Conservation Council Lobbying Advisory Council is supported by these other environmental organizations...
Audubon Society North Carolina
www.ncaudubon.org
Carolina Recycling Association
www.cra-recycle.org
Conservation Trust for NC
www.ctnc.org
Carteret County Crossroads
www.carteretcrossroads.org
Eno River Association
www.enoriver.org
Friends of State Parks
www.rasman.com/fsp
Neuse River Foundation
www.neuseriver.org
New Hope Audubon
www.newhopeaudubon.org
NC Coastal Federation
www.nccoast.org
NC Native Plant Society
www.ncwildflower.org
NC Rail-Trails
www.ncrail-trails.org
NC Recreation & Park Association
http://www.ncrpa.net
NC Sustainable Energy Association
www.ncsustainableenergy.org
Pamlico-Tar River Foundation
www.ptrf.org
South River Association
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
www.cleanenergy.org
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