Meeting a cap equal to 30 percent lower nitrogen loads into the Neuse Estuary will be a serious challenge. Nutrient pollution in the Tar-Pamlico Basin has been the focus of enormous bureaucratic effort over the past eight years, with little or no net reduction in nitrogen loads yet achieved. The main lesson from the Tar-Pamlico is the need to address all pollution sources, including discharges from cities and industry, as well as farms and forests and even air pollution. While we must refine models to assure maximum bang for the buck, many of the solutions are obvious. Cities and industries must reduce nitrogen loads by at least 30 percent.
Engineering studies can identify facilities where the reductions are most easily made.
Existing hog farms must be carefully regulated, with mandatory nitrogen management plans to guarantee little or no off-site nitrogen movement, especially through groundwater and air. It seems likely that individual permits will be necessary for all operations over 1,000 head, with general permits for those between 250-1,000 head. New hog farms should be banned unless nitrogen loads can be both minimized and offset. Landscapes where total assimilative capacity for nitrogen is already exceeded should be closed to new hog farms. The toughest issues are traditional farms and air pollution.