Legislation Will Halt Permitting or Construction of Landfills for One Year

Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law Senate Bill 353, "An act to impose a moratorium on the consideration of permit applications and issuance of permits for the construction of new landfills in the state for a period beginning on August 1, 2006 and ending on August 1, 2007 ...(and) to direct the Environmental Review Commission to study issues related to solid waste disposal in order to protect public health and the environment; and to create the Joint Select Committee on Environmental Justice."

"I am pleased to sign this important piece of legislation that will make sure we safeguard North Carolina's precious environmental heritage," said Easley. "This legislation will give us time to ensure that any policy on landfills balances environmental concerns with any economic benefits and protects the public health."

The new law stops the state's environmental regulators from issuing permits for landfills for a period of one year so the state can study solid waste disposal issues to protect the environment and public health. The study will be conducted by the state's Environmental Review Commission with assistance from the Division of Waste Management in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Issues of concern include ensuring adequate public input, the application process, site design issues and traffic considerations for proposed sites.

In addition, the legislation creates the Joint Select Committee on Environmental Justice to examine the location of landfills in the state, with a focus on the economic and demographic nature of the communities, the impact landfills have that are located near minority and low-income communities and the factors that have led to the location of landfills in or near minority and low income communities.

"With this legislation, we will now be able to study the long-term impact large landfills will have on our communities," said Senate President Protempore Marc Basnight (D-Dare).

"We are responsible for protecting the water and land for families today and doing what we can to preserve a quality way of life for those who come after us. This new law will help meet that responsibility," said Sen. R.C. Soles (D-Columbus).

"Nobody knows what the impact would be with some of the 'mega landfills' that are being proposed. We need to take a long, hard look at this before we go down that road," said Sen. Clark Jenkins (D-Edgecombe).

"This legislation will make sure that all aspects of the matter are considered, particularly the economic well-being of the state's poor and rural communities that are struggling to attract jobs and provide opportunities," said Rep. H.M. "Mickey" Michaux (D-Durham).

"It is important that communities are fully aware of what the risks and benefits are as they make decisions about their futures and not fall victim to well-financed interests and aggressive pressure tactics," said Rep. Dewey Hill (D-Columbus).

The legislation becomes effective immediately.