The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have scheduled three public hearings in December to gather feedback on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Town of Fuquay-Varina’s Interbasin Transfer Certificate request.
The hearings are set for December 4 at Fayetteville Technology Community College, December 9 at the Archdale Building in Raleigh, and December 11 at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. Each session will begin at 6 p.m., with sign-in and speaker registration starting at 5:30 p.m. For those attending the Raleigh hearing, public parking is available after 5 p.m. at Parking Deck 64 across from the Archdale Building, and additional options can be found using the Interactive State Parking Map.
Fuquay-Varina, currently located in the Neuse River Basin, is seeking approval to transfer water from the Cape Fear River Basin to address anticipated future water shortages. The town presently relies on purchasing water from neighboring systems including Raleigh, Harnett County, and Johnston County. However, projections indicate that these sources will not meet demand by 2030.
To address this issue, Fuquay-Varina proposes sourcing water from the Tri-Rivers Water Treatment Plant operated by the City of Sanford in the Cape Fear River Basin. The town is requesting approval to transfer up to 6.17 million gallons per day from Cape Fear to Neuse based on demand projections through 2055.
The draft EIS provides a detailed analysis of potential environmental impacts in both river basins if this certificate is granted. The document is available online through DEQ’s website as well as via the North Carolina Department of Administration Environmental Review Clearinghouse.
A hydrologic model used for evaluating alternatives within the EIS can also be accessed upon request through DEQ’s website related to Fuquay-Varina’s IBT request. Training sessions on using this virtual model are scheduled for December 2 and December 16; registration is required by emailing maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend these hearings and submit relevant written or verbal comments regarding the draft EIS associated with Fuquay-Varina’s IBT certificate request. Speaking time may be limited depending on attendance levels.
Written comments can also be sent by mail to Maya Holcomb at Division of Water Resources, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC, or by email to maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov. All comments must be postmarked or emailed by February 1, 2026.
Additional application materials and documents are accessible online via DEQ’s page dedicated to Fuquay-Varina’s Interbasin Transfer request.
For those needing this notice in another language or requiring interpretive services during public hearings, contact information has been provided with a deadline for requests set for November 14.
“If you need this notice in another language, call 919-707-8604 or email laura.oleniacz@deq.nc.gov. Please reach out by Nov. 14 if you require interpretive services at the public hearings.”
“Si necesita esta información en español por favor llame al 919-707-8604 o mande un correo a laura.oleniacz@deq.nc.gov.”
