The state legislature now gets down to the nitty gritty of hammering out a budget. We offer side-by-side comparisons of environmental appropriations and policy in each of the budget proposals.
Legislature
Raleigh’s Long Reach to Sunset Beach
The Sunset Beach Town Council called a special meeting yesterday to try and figure out how to fend off a bill introduced in the state legislature that would remove three properties from town limits.
Conservation Funds Boosted in Budget
The N.C. House of Representatives approved yesterday a spending plan that restores some of the conservation funds cut from the budget last year and includes a number of provisions supporting oyster revitalization efforts.
Legislators Scrutinize DEQ Legal Fund
Legislators mulling Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed budget want state environmental officials to explain why they need additional $5 million to cover litigation expense.
Lawmakers: Beaches Need More Money
State lawmakers may move to tap a bigger share of local occupancy taxes to pay for beach renourishment projects during the legislative session that begins Monday.
Bills to Weaken Protections Are Ready
A legislative committee that is the gatekeeper for new environmental bills is ready with measures that weaken stormwater regulations and stream protections. The new session of the N.C. General Assembly starts next week.
DEQ: No Push to Relax Buffer Rules
State environmental regulators say they don’t plan to seek legislative changes to water-quality rules this year, but a top official recently drew criticism for dismissing their effectiveness.
EPA Gets Blame for Coal-Ash Delays
Tom Reeder, assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, blames EPA officials for delays in cleaning up 32 coal-ash ponds in the state.
First Come a Flood of Reports
The N.C. General Assembly ordered a bevy of studies — stormwater, beach erosion and wetlands to name a few — that are due this spring. The studies offer hints of legislation to come.
Shellfish Studies Signal New Strategy
Legislation passed this year calls for new ways to restore the state’s shellfish resources, with policy studies and reworked plans for an oyster sanctuary.
On the Road to Extinction?
State lawmakers again slashed the budget for the state’s Natural Heritage Program, a non-regulatory program that inventories rare animals and habitats, but nobody will say why.
Groups Urge Veto of Environmental Bill
Environmental groups are calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to veto a sweeping deregulation bill state lawmakers passed early Wednesday before adjourning for the year.
Next Up: Major Environmental Bill
With the state budget a wrap and Jones Street fatigue setting in, legislators will likely take up a bill this week that would roll back more environmental standards before finally calling it quits for the year.
New State Budget and the Environment
The state Senate gave final approval yesterday to a $21.7 billion state budget that includes dozens of provisions affecting coastal policy and spending, including a weakening of sandbag rules and raising the cap on terminal groins.
Environmental Bills at a Standstill
Legislators haven’t made much progress in reaching agreement on two “reform” bills that would have far-reaching effects on environmental regulations.
Senate Budget Bars Federal Energy Grants
Senate leaders have added a state budget provision that would prohibit agencies from applying for federal clean energy, efficiency and technology grants.
