By this time next week, Crossover will be in the rear-view mirror. Hopefully, the pace will have slowed down some. In the meantime, it means session lasting until 11:00pm or later, arguing over issues such as hunting on Sunday and other bills that need to pass before the April 30 deadline.
A couple of those bills are on today’s calendar. I highlighted our concerns about these two specific pieces of legislation last week. We are still asking members to vote NO on H760 “Regulatory Reform Act of 2015” and H795 “State Environmental Policy Act.” Both of these bills will be included in our annual Legislative Scorecard.
There have been several write-ups in the News & Observer recently about H795 including two in today’s paper. The N.C. Chamber’s Bonner Bridge example is outright misleading on how SEPA works. That project is not covered by SEPA. It is covered by NEPA because there are federally-funded dollars involved. So, either the Chamber is desperate for an example, or they are purposefully misleading people. Whatever your vote is today on H795, it will not have any impact whatsoever on the Bonner Bridge Project. The current problem being resolved now is that agencies have not complied with Section 4F of the Federal Transportation Act.
As the father of a two little girls, ages 4 and 6, we would call that lying. And, when lying happens in our house, someone has to go their room to think about what they did wrong.
I have included links to an article and a truthful editorial on H795. As for the chamber, bless their hearts.
“Reforming SEPA: An attempt to turn it into a hollow shell”
“NC Environmental Impact Law in Jeopardy”
OPPOSE
HB639 RISK-BASED REMEDIATION AMENDS
HB760 REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2015
SB453 REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2015
The HotList is a weekly email the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) sends out during session where we talk about relevant legislation and share information on key environmental issues as they come before the General Assembly. While primarily intended for elected representatives, the HotList is also made public to any and all who are concerned about the environment.