North Carolina Board Gears Up For New NPDES Rules Amid EPA Warnings

A North Carolina regulatory board is gearing up to draft rules implementing just-enacted legislation easing the state’s discharge permit program, despite EPA warnings that it would disapprove any permits issued under the program -- and possibly withdraw the state’s permit authority -- due to conflicts with the Clean Water Act (CWA). The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC), a 15-member commission responsible for adopting environmental rules, is scheduled to hold a July 11 meeting during which the panel will evaluate...