Coast Guard shallow-water response boat team members assist motorists stranded in flood water caused by Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2018. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard There are a lot of firsts and significant investments in the newly minted state budget, and among the biggest of those that check…
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Fine print in budget worries environmental advocates
Gov. Roy Cooper signs the state budget Nov. 18, his first since taking office in 2017. Photo: Governor’s office Major new policies on resilience and flood mitigation and a return to high levels of conservation and water quality funding have been hailed as the major win in this year’s state…
Public Will Get Its Say on Regulatory Bill
RALEIGH — In a move that highlights legislative tensions over the scope of new environmental legislation, a N.C. House committee will hold a public hearing this morning on a state Senate bill that weakens numerous environmental regulations. Rep. Rick Catlin, R-New Hanover, the House Environmental Committee chairman, said the hearing,…
Budget Outlook Mixed; Coastal Bills Filed
The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. Photo: Frank Taylor/Carolina Public Press North Carolina’s fiscal outlook reflects the hit expected by COVID-19, but overall the General Assembly starts its biennial budget process with a substantial cushion. In a joint…
New Energy Bills Pave the Way
2007-2008 Session SJR1987 — ERC Study Offshore Drilling for Energy Needs. Primary sponsors: Sen. James Forrester The first in a series of similar proposals, the bill was a joint resolution that read: “The Environmental Review Commission may study the desirability of encouraging the offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural…