Tough Measures Proposed to Control Runoff and Erosion

(24 November, 1997—Raleigh, NC) Environmental groups today are urging Governor Hunt to endorse a set of proposals designed to reduce sediment pollution to North Carolina waterways. The recommendations, unanimously adopted by the state Sedimentation Control Commission last Wednesday, call for strengthening the state’s efforts to reduce erosion and runoff, and are primarily aimed at residential and commercial development, and road building. In July, Governor Hunt charged the Commission with developing the strategy in the wake of a large sediment plume in the Neuse River caused by extensive runoff from construction sites in Raleigh.

“Just as the hog lagoon spills of 1995 highlighted the need for tougher regulatory standards for large factory swine farms, this summer’s huge sediment plume should show the public that current efforts to prevent erosion and sedimentation simply aren’t enough,” said Dr. Joe Rudek, senior scientist with the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund (NCEDF) and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee to the Commission. “Sediment pollution is the number one threat to our state’s rivers and streams and poses a significant risk to fish populations, especially non-game species, and aquatic diversity, in general. Aggressive action is needed now to combat this widespread problem.”

The Commission’s package of proposals calls for nearly $8 million in new funding for improved monitoring and more frequent inspections, emergency response and research. Of this, approximately $6.5 million would be dedicated to hiring additional state and local staff to monitor compliance with sedimentation and erosion plans. This could significantly improve compliance with sedimentation standards by enabling state and/or local officials to inspect ongoing land-disturbing projects on average every two weeks. Currently, projects are inspected on average once every six months.

“The most important first step in cleaning up our rivers and protecting fish habitats is through enforcing compliance with existing sedimentation control standards and practices,” said Tom Bean, Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and also a member of the Technical Advisory Committee to the Commission. “Additional work will be needed to determine the adequacy of those standards and practices.”

The Commission plans to do just that through a series of work groups that will meet over the course of the next several months. Among other things, the work groups will evaluate current approaches for stream bank protection, including an assessment of stream bank erosion and the need for more riparian buffers. Work groups will also examine opportunities for self-monitoring and record keeping and will assess the adequacy of civil penalties for violations.

NCEDF is also conducting its own assessment of North Carolina’s sedimentation and erosion control programs and is expected to release its own report soon. “We commend the Commission for its bold recommendations to the Governor and urge it to continue to work diligently on this problem,” Dr. Rudek said. “Our report will include recommendations designed to build upon those proposed by the Commission, with a special emphasis on developing pilot strategies for reducing sediment pollution in western North Carolina.”