reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.8 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.8 - Division of Mitigation Services: established.

 143-214.8. Division of Mitigation Services: established.The Division of Mitigation Services is established within the Department of Environmental Quality. The Division of Mitigation Services shall be developed by the Department as a nonregulatory statewide mitigation services program for the acquisition, maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and creation of wetland and riparian resources that contribute to the protection and improvement of water quality, flood prevention, fisheries, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. The Division of Mitigation Services shall consist of the following components:(1) Restoration and perpetual maintenance of wetlands.(2) Development of restoration plans.(3) Landowner contact and land acquisition.(4) Evaluation of site plans and engineering studies.(5) Oversight of construction and monitoring of restoration sites.(6) Land ownership and management.(7) Mapping, site identification, and assessment of wetlands functions.(8) Oversight of private wetland mitigation banks to facilitate the components of the Division of Mitigation Services.(9) Restoration and monitoring of projects or land acquisitions that create or restore flood storage capacity.  (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.4(a); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2005-386, s. 3.1; 2015-1, s. 4.1; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u); 2020-79, s. 11A(a).)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.9 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.9 - Division of Mitigation Services: purposes.

 143-214.9. Division of Mitigation Services: purposes.The purposes of the Division of Mitigation Services are as follows:(1) To restore wetlands functions and values across the State to replace critical functions lost through historic wetlands conversion and through current and future permitted impacts. It is not the policy of the State to destroy upland habitats unless it would further the purposes of the Division of Mitigation Services.(2) To provide a consistent and simplified approach to address mitigation requirements associated with permits or authorizations issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers under 33 U.S.C. 1344.(3) To streamline the wetlands permitting process, minimize delays in permit decisions, and decrease the burden of permit applicants of planning and performing compensatory mitigation for wetlands losses.(4) To increase the ecological effectiveness of compensatory mitigation.(5) To achieve a net increase in wetland acres, functions, and values in each major river basin.(6) To foster a comprehensive approach to environmental protection.(7) To reduce flood risk by creating or restoring flood storage capacity in streams, wetlands, and floodplains.  (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.4(a); 2005-386, s. 3.2; 2015-1, s. 4.2; 2020-79, s. 11A(b).)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.10 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.10 - Division of Mitigation Services: development and implementation of basinwide restoration plans.

 143-214.10. Division of Mitigation Services: development and implementation of basinwide restoration plans.Develop Basinwide Restoration Plans. - The Department shall develop basinwide plans for wetlands and riparian area restoration with the goal of protecting and enhancing water quality, flood prevention, fisheries, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities within each of the 17 major river basins in the State. The Department shall develop and implement a basinwide restoration plan for each of the 17 river basins in the State in accordance with the basinwide schedule currently established by the Division of Water Resources.  (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.4(a); 2005-386, s. 3.3; 2013-413, s. 57(j); 2014-115, s. 17; 2015-1, s. 4.3.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.11A (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.11A - Flood storage capacity restoration and enhancement.

 143-214.11A. Flood storage capacity restoration and enhancement.(a) Definition. - A flood storage project is defined as a project that creates or restores a quantity of flood storage capacity expressed in acre-feet. A flood storage project includes, but is not limited to, the creation or restoration of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas, temporary flooding of fields, pastures, or forests, and other nature-based projects that can demonstrably increase flood storage capacity.(b) Flood Storage Capacity Basinwide Planning; Advisory Board. - To the extent of funds available for this purpose, basinwide plans developed under G.S. 143-214.10 shall include plans for restoration and enhancement of flood storage capacity to reduce the risk of flooding in flood prone areas of the State and enhance stormwater management capacity and shall set target amounts of flood storage capacity for each basin and subbasin. It is the intent of the General Assembly that appropriations, grants, and other funds received for flood storage enhancement shall be held in the Ecosystem Restoration Fund established by G.S. 143-214.12 and allocated for projects consistent with the basinwide plans, this section, and the conditions on funding for grants received in support of the program or a specific project. The Division shall establish an advisory board to guide program development and implementation.(c) Projects funded under this section shall meet all of the following requirements:(1) Be consistent with plans for restoration and enhancement of stormwater management or flood storage capacity included in basinwide plans developed under G.S. 143-214.10.(2) Be designed and constructed to provide for a quantifiable increase in flood storage capacity in the designated watershed or sub-watershed based on the difference between the total number of acre-feet of flood storage in the watershed or sub-watershed before project commencement and after project completion.(3) Incorporate a mechanism for post-construction monitoring.(d) The Division shall comply with the procurement preferences set forth in G.S. 143-214.11(i) in procuring flood storage enhancement or restoration projects with funds set aside for those purposes. Requests for proposal shall require that projects specify the number of acre-feet of flood storage capacity enhancement or restoration in a specified watershed or sub-watershed based on the watershed planning required by this section. Submitted proposals shall be prioritized and selected based on criteria to be developed by the Division with input from the advisory board. These criteria may include analysis of costs and benefits, compatibility with and maintenance of working lands, and ecological benefits.  (2020-79, s. 11A(e).)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.13 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.13 - Division of Mitigation Services: reporting requirement.

 143-214.13. Division of Mitigation Services: reporting requirement.(a) The Department of Environmental Quality shall report each year by November 1 to the Environmental Review Commission, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division regarding its progress in implementing the Division of Mitigation Services and its use of the funds in the Ecosystem Restoration Fund. The report shall document statewide wetlands losses and gains, compensatory mitigation performed under G.S. 143-214.8 through G.S. 143-214.12, and gains in acre-feet of flood storage capacity from projects funded under G.S. 143-214.11A. The report shall also provide an accounting of receipts and disbursements of the Ecosystem Restoration Fund, an analysis of the per-acre cost of wetlands restoration, and a cost comparison on a per-acre basis between the State's Division of Mitigation Services and private mitigation banks. The Department shall also send a copy of its report to the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly.(b) The Department shall maintain an inventory of all property that is held, managed, maintained, enhanced, restored, or used to create wetlands or to enhance or restore flood storage capacity under the Division of Mitigation Services. The inventory shall also list all conservation easements held by the Department. The inventory shall be included in the annual report required under subsection (a) of this section.  (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 27.4(a); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 1999-329, s. 6.2; 2005-386, s. 3.6; 2010-142, s. 3; 2015-1, s. 4.6; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u); 2017-57, s. 14.1(h); 2020-79, s. 11A(d).)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.21 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.21 - Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund.

 143-214.21. Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund.The Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund is established as a nonreverting fund within the Department. The Fund shall be treated as a special trust fund and shall be credited with interest by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-69.2 and G.S. 147-69.3. The Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund shall provide a repository for monetary contributions to promote projects for the restoration, enhancement, or creation of riparian buffers or to construct approved alternative measures that reduce nutrient loading as well or better than a riparian buffer that is lost and for compensatory mitigation fees paid to the Department. The Fund shall be administered by the Department. Moneys shall be expended from the Fund only for those purposes directly related to the restoration, acquisition, creation, enhancement, and maintenance of riparian buffers or to construct approved alternative measures that reduce nutrient loading as well or better than a riparian buffer. Compensatory mitigation fees paid into the Fund in connection with the loss of riparian buffers in a river basin and the interest earned on those fees may be used only for projects in that river basin. (1998-221, s. 1.5(b); 1999-448, s. 2; 2005-443, s. 1.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.22 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.22 - Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Department may accept donations of real property.

 143-214.22. Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Department may accept donations of real property.The Department may accept donations of real property and interests in real property if the real property or interest in real property is a riparian buffer or will be used to restore, create, enhance, or maintain a riparian buffer that will provide protection of water quality. (1998-221, s. 1.13; 1999-448, s. 3.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.24 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.24 - Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Coordination with River Basin Associations.

 143-214.24. Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Coordination with River Basin Associations.(a) Prior to drafting temporary or permanent rules that require the preservation of riparian buffers in a river basin, the Department shall consult with major stakeholders who may have an interest in the proposed rules, including the board of directors or representatives designated by the board of directors of any river basin association in the affected river basin that meets all of the following criteria:(1) The association is a nonprofit corporation, as defined by G.S. 55A-1-40.(2) The association has as its primary purpose the conservation, preservation, and restoration of the environmental and natural resources of the river basin in which it is located.(3) Membership in the association is open on a nondiscriminatory basis to all citizens in the river basin.(4) The membership of the board of directors of the association includes at least one representative from each county with a significant portion of its territory in the river basin.(5) The membership of the association includes significant representation from each of the following categories of persons:a. Elected local officials.b. Persons involved in agriculture.c. Persons involved in residential and commercial land development.d. Persons involved in forestry.e. Representatives of community-based organizations.f. Representatives of organizations that advocate for protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources.g. Persons with special training and scientific expertise in protection of water who are affiliated with colleges and universities.h. Private property owners.i. Persons with a general interest in water quality protection.(b) The purpose of the consultation required by subsection (a) of this section is to assure that major stakeholders who may have an interest in the proposed rules have an opportunity to inform the Department of their concerns before the Department drafts the rules. (2000-172, s. 5.1.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.25 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.25 - Expired.

 143-214.25. Expired.
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.25A (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.25A - Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Surface Water Identification Training and Certification Program.

 143-214.25A. Riparian Buffer Protection Program: Surface Water Identification Training and Certification Program.(a) The Division of Water Resources of the Department shall develop a program to train and certify individuals to determine the presence of surface waters that would require the application of rules adopted by the Commission for the protection of riparian buffers. The Division may train and certify employees of the Division as determined by the Director of the Division of Water Resources; employees of units of local government to whom responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of the riparian buffer protection rules is delegated pursuant to G.S. 143-214.23; and Registered Foresters under Chapter 89B of the General Statutes who are employees of the North Carolina Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as determined by the Assistant Commissioner of the North Carolina Forest Service. The Director of the Division of Water Resources may review the determinations made by individuals who are certified pursuant to this section, may override a determination made by an individual certified under this section, and, if the Director of the Division of Water Resources determines that an individual is failing to make correct determinations, revoke the certification of that individual.(b) The Division of Water Resources shall develop standard forms for use in making and reporting determinations. Each individual who is certified to make determinations under this section shall prepare a written report of each determination and shall submit the report to the agency that employs the individual. Each agency shall maintain reports of determinations made by its employees, shall forward a copy of each report to the Director of the Division of Water Resources, and shall maintain these reports and all other records related to determinations so that they will be readily accessible to the public.(c) In implementing the Surface Water Identification Training and Certification Program established by this section, the Division of Water Resources of the Department of Environmental Quality shall give priority to training and certifying the most highly qualified and experienced personnel in each agency. The Division of Water Resources shall evaluate the effectiveness of the Surface Water Identification Training and Certification Program and shall submit an annual report of its findings and recommendations, if any, to the Environmental Review Commission on or before October 1 of each year.  (2010-180, s. 4(a), (b); 2011-145, s. 13.25(uu); 2013-155, s. 22; 2013-413, s. 57(k), (cc); 2014-115, s. 17; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).)
NC Gen Stat § 143-214.26 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-214.26 - Nutrient offset credits.

 143-214.26. Nutrient offset credits.(a) Nutrient offset credits may be purchased to offset nutrient loadings to surface waters as required by the Environmental Management Commission. Nutrient offset credits shall be effective for the duration of the nutrient offset project unless the Department of Environmental Quality finds the credits are effective for a limited time period. Nutrient offset projects authorized under this section shall be consistent with rules adopted by the Commission for implementation of nutrient management strategies.(b) A government entity, as defined in G.S. 143-214.11, may purchase nutrient offset credits through either:(1) Participation in a nutrient offset bank that has been approved by the Department if the Department approves the use of the bank for the required nutrient offsets.(2) Payment of a nutrient offset fee established by the Department into the Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund established in G.S. 143-214.21.(c) A party other than a government entity, as defined in G.S. 143-214.11, may purchase nutrient offset credits through either:(1) Participation in a nutrient offset bank that has been approved by the Department if the Department approves the use of the bank for the required nutrient offsets.(2) Payment of a nutrient offset fee established by the Department into the Riparian Buffer Restoration Fund established in G.S. 143-214.21. This option is only available to an applicant who demonstrates that the option under subdivision (1) of this subsection is not available.(d) To offset NPDES-permitted wastewater nutrient sources, credits may only be acquired from nutrient offset projects located in either of the following areas:(1) The same hydrologic area. For purposes of this subdivision, "hydrologic area" means an eight-digit cataloging unit designated by the United States Geological Survey.(2) A location that is downstream from the source and upstream from the water body identified for restoration under the applicable TMDL or nutrient management strategy.(e) To offset stormwater or other nutrient sources, credits may only be acquired from an offset project located within the same hydrologic area, as defined in G.S. 143-214.11.(f) The permissible credit sources identified in subsections (d) and (e) of this section may be further limited by rule as necessary to achieve nutrient strategy objectives.  (2009-337, s. 4(a)-(c); 2019-86, s. 1.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-215 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-215 - Effluent standards or limitations.

 143-215. Effluent standards or limitations.(a) The Commission is authorized and directed to develop, adopt, modify and revoke effluent standards or limitations and waste treatment management practices as it determines necessary to prohibit, abate, or control water pollution. The effluent standards or limitations and management practices may provide, without limitation, standards or limitations or management practices for any point source or sources; standards, limitations, management practices, or prohibitions for toxic wastes or combinations of toxic wastes discharged from any point source or sources; and pretreatment standards for wastes discharged to any disposal system subject to effluent standards or limitations or management practices.(b) The effluent standards or limitations developed and adopted by the Commission shall provide limitations upon the effluents discharged from pretreatment facilities and from outlets and point sources to the waters of the State adequate to limit the waste loads upon the waters of the State to the extent necessary to maintain or enhance the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of the waters. The management practices developed and adopted by the Commission shall prescribe practices necessary to be employed in order to prevent or reduce contribution of pollutants to the State's waters.(c), (d) Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 507, s. 27.(e) Repealed by Session Laws 1997-458, s. 13.1. (1967, c. 892, s. 1; 1971, c. 1167, s. 5; 1973, c. 821, s. 4; c. 929; c. 1262, s. 23; 1975, c. 583, s. 1; 1979, c. 633, ss. 2-4; 1987, c. 827, ss. 154, 158; 1989, c. 168, s. 48; 1991, c. 403, s. 2; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 890, s. 15; 1995, c. 507, s. 27.8(s); 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 626, s. 4; 1997-458, s. 13.1.)
NC Gen Stat § 143-215.1A (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 143 - State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions|Article 21 - Water and Air Resources.|§ 143-215.1A - Closed-loop groundwater remediation systems allowed.

 143-215.1A. Closed-loop groundwater remediation systems allowed.(a) The phrase "closed-loop groundwater remediation system" means a system and attendant processes for cleaning up contaminated groundwater by pumping groundwater, treating the groundwater to reduce the concentration of or remove contaminants, and reintroducing the treated water beneath the surface so that the treated groundwater will be recaptured by the system.(b) The Secretary may issue a permit for the siting, construction, and operation of a closed-loop groundwater remediation system. Permits shall be issued in accordance with G.S. 143-215.1 and applicable rules of the Commission. A permit issued under this section constitutes prior permission under G.S. 87-88.(c) A permit for a closed-loop groundwater remediation system shall specify the location at which groundwater is to be reintroduced and shall specify design, construction, operation, and closure requirements for the closed-loop groundwater remediation system necessary to ensure that the treated groundwater will be captured by the contaminant and removal system that extracts the groundwater for treatment. The Secretary may impose any additional permit conditions or limitations necessary to:(1) Achieve efficient, effective groundwater remediation.(2) Minimize the possibility of spills or other releases from the closed-loop groundwater remediation system.(3) Specify or limit the distance between the point at which contaminated groundwater is extracted and the point at which treated groundwater is reintroduced.(4) Specify the minimum or maximum gradients between the point at which contaminated groundwater is extracted and the point at which treated groundwater is reintroduced.(5) Specify or limit the chemical, physical, or biological treatment processes that may be used.(6) Protect the environment or public health.(d) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this section. (1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 786, s. 3.)