The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) and the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) are seeking public input on a proposed rule change that would permit domestic wastewater discharges into zero-flow streams. A public hearing is scheduled for November 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh, with sign-in and speaker registration beginning at 3 p.m.
The period for submitting written and emailed comments has been extended until December 15. This extension follows the passage of SL 2025-94 s. 23.(a), which amended previous legislation and directed the EMC to develop rules allowing such discharges to low-flow streams. The EMC is responsible for creating rules for several divisions within DEQ, including Air Quality, Land Resources, Waste Management, and Water Resources.
“In addition to speaking at the hearing, the public can also submit written and emailed comments on the draft rule in a comment period that has been extended until Dec. 15.”
Comments may be sent by mail to Karen Higgins at DEQ-DWR Planning Section, 1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1611 or by email to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov.
The full text of the proposed amendment and its regulatory impact analysis are available online.
