The state Senate in North Carolina came to an agreement about rules on how small and medium sized communities will regulate srormwater runoff caused by new home development, as well as other construction.
These new rules were created with the help of environmentalists, local governments and developers in an effort to resolve regulatory battles that will affect 123 municipalities and 33 counties.
With the bill, subdivisions and other home developers will be required to install stormwater controls if they build near shellfish waters. Developers would also have to set up retention ponds or vegetation to control rainwater runoff in certain coastal areas where more than 12 percent of the land is occupied by buildings, pavement gravel or athletic courts.