Call your Legislators to Oppose S.B. 472 ~ An unworkable solution to a non-existent problem
Please contact your NC Senators and House Representatives to oppose Senate Bill 472. This is an URGENT ACTION!
This bill would require DEQ to act on a 401 water quality certification for a project that received a nationwide permit (NWP) WITHIN FIVE DAYS of receiving a complete 401 application, otherwise, the 401 certification requirement is deemed waived.
A timeline this short would eliminate public engagement. The goal of this bill is to force DEQ to waive permitting on big, complicated projects that it cannot possibly review in 5 days. This is an impossible time frame for complex water quality certification processes, which can often be for projects that traverse several miles and multiple water bodies, such as fracked gas pipelines.
● 401 water quality certifications are the primary tool for a state to protect its water quality from a project that receives only a federal permit–undercutting 401 certifications removes North Carolina’s ability to make determinations for itself.
○ The true goal of this legislation is to force DEQ to waive permitting on big projects that it cannot possibly review in five days.
● President Trump’s executive order declaring a “national energy emergency” could lead the Army Corps to process more projects under a nationwide permit, including fracked gas pipelines. DEQ will soon be tasked with permitting several pipelines in North Carolina, including Transco’s massive and unnecessary Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (“SSEP”).
○ DEQ cannot review a project that large in five days, and would likely be forced to waive permitting
authority under this legislation.
Letter Campaign by
Bynum, North Carolina
Sponsored by
Graham, NC