Chamber Focuses on Fixing Regulations to Help Environment & Economy

What are some opportunities our state lawmakers can engage in that will help create jobs and get our state’s economy growing again? The answer lies in policies that provide certainty for employers – our job creators!

The North Carolina Chamber applauds lawmakers for passing pivotal pro-jobs policies this past legislative session that will provide some of that needed certainty, particularly those that will protect the economy and environment. Our Chamber worked hard this session to pass legislation that solidifies nearly 30 years of state policy by clarifying the intent and application of the State Environmental Policy Act. This important policy restores the original legislative intent of the Act, prevents the delay of economic development projects and keeps intact the appropriate environmental review processes. Additionally our Chamber helped pass legislation that ensures minor environmental violations do not inadvertently disqualify a taxpayer that would otherwise be eligible for vital tax incentives that would help grow jobs.

Looking Ahead…
Opportunities for Common-Sense Changes to Environmental Regulations

While the General Assembly may have temporarily adjourned, your state Chamber’s advocacy effort to keep and create jobs and grow our state’s economy never adjourns. Our Chamber is already gearing up to identify opportunities for the 2011 legislative session to eliminate unnecessary uncertainty that is hindering economic recovery and job creation.

Our Chamber believes that additional opportunities exist where common-sense changes to the environmental regulatory process would help both the environment and economy:

l  Reform to Improve the Environment & Increase Economic Development

aIssue: “Site-specific risk-based remediation for industrial sites” is one example of common-sense regulatory reform that would help NC businesses grow the economy and improve the environment across all of North Carolina.

aReform: Current requirements for clean-up of contaminated industrial sites restrict development and prevent productive, environmental safe use of land. Even though the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has risk-based clean-up standards in other programs, there is not currently a program that allows for risk-based clean-up of industrial sites.

aPosition: The North Carolina Chamber believes it is important to establish sensible clean-up standards for industrial sites by implementing site-specific risk-based clean-up principles. This would allow contaminated sites to be re-developed and placed into productive use. It would protect the public’s health and the environment, while allowing businesses to create jobs and grow the economy. If a company is willing to invest in the clean-up of a site that needs it, then it should be allowed to develop the site. It just makes good sense.

Click here to learn more.


l Reform to Provide Fairness & Certainty in Enforcement

aIssue: “Tiered enforcement” is another example where regulatory reform makes good sense and would provide NC businesses the certainty they need to keep and create jobs.

aReform: Currently DENR policies encourage issuance of a “Notice of Violation” (NOV) for all environmental infractions – even when there is no real, or even potential, environmental harm. Many NC businesses have received NOV’s for very minor administrative errors. When our facilities in NC appear to be receiving more than their sister facilities in other states where NOV’s are not issues for administrative errors, it makes NC look bad, not only to the corporate leaders of current NC companies, but also to other businesses looking to bring jobs to our state.

aPosition: The North Carolina Chamber believes it is important to provide certainty and fairness around enforcement of environmental violations to ensure that only significant environmental infractions result in a formal NOV. The legislature should direct DENR to modify its enforcement policies to establish a “tiered” enforcement approach – one that requires that the level of regulatory response to match the degree to which an environmental infraction causes or could cause harm to the environment.

l Reform to Streamline Rulemaking Framework

aIssue: Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s Environmental Management Commission is another example of reform that will result in certainty for businesses, while achieving more clear, consistent and effective environmental regulations.

aReform: Currently, environmental policymaking in our state is spread across multiple, part-time, boards, commissions, and councils– most, but not all, of which reside in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In today’s world, environmental policymaking should not be a part-time job as the science, technology, and the law of environmental protection is too complex for part-time citizen boards and commissions. Additionally, the fact that these boards and commissions are dependent on the same agency staff that is proposing a rule or is a party in a contested case leads to lack of independence, and can call into question their ability to make a fair and impartial decision.

aPosition: Consolidation of the state’s environmental policymaking and quasi-judicial functions into one commission comprised of full-time members with its own staff would greatly enhance the efficiency, objectivity and fairness of environmental policy-making and regulation in North Carolina.

Click here to learn more.

l Renewed Emphasis on Importance of Water Allocation

aIssue: Water supply in North Carolina has undergone drastic cyclical changes over the past decade. There have been periods of drought and periods of flooding. Water supply particularly in extreme situations, presents challenges for North Carolina as we work to sustain economic growth while addressing the needs of citizens and balance concerns for our environment. Renewed discussion of water policy in North Carolina is likely to be addressed in the 2011 General Assembly session.

aPosition: The North Carolina Chamber believes that adequate water supply is vital to economic development efforts across the state. In order for businesses to invest capital there must be adequate water supply and certainty around its availability. Supporting continued economic development and job creation must be a primary objective of any water supply policy that is adopted by the state.

Want to Hear from Environmental Experts on Pending Policies?

The NC Chamber is hosting its 2010 Environmental Management Summit, providing attendees timely and valuable updates from experts on these critical environmental issues affecting members of all sizes and sectors.

Topics will include state and federal legislative and regulatory updates, along with a look at what action has been taken in recent months by the NC General Assembly and Congress.  Participants will also learn from insiders and experts what legislative and regulatory activity businesses might anticipate from state and federal lawmakers in the coming months and during 2011. The NC Chamber is excited to announce that attendees will hear an update from EPA’s Acting Regional Director for North Carolina, Dr. Stan Meiburg and an update on the NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources from Secretary Dee Freeman.

North Carolina Chamber 2nd Annual Environmental Management Summit
September 16, 2010
Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, Durham
Registration is now open!
Click here to get your tickets now!

Have Your Say!….
Will Reforming Environmental Regulations Help NC’s Economy?

What do you think about the Chamber’s proposed reforms to environmental regulations? Do you want to help shape the NC Chamber’s 2011 Jobs Agenda?  What do you believe state leaders and legislators should do to ensure good jobs and economic recovery in our state? 

The NC Chamber’s THINK JOBS! Campaign is ongoing. Help shape the North Carolina’s ‘Jobs Agenda’ today by visiting www.ncchamber.net/jobscampaign to share, comment on and rate ideas and opinions about how best to keep and create jobs!