SB 605 — IBT Subbasin/TMDL Transport Factor.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 21 SENATE BILL 605 Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee Substitute Adopted 5/6/25 Short Title:

Senators Sawrey and P.

Newton (Primary Sponsors).

Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN SUBBASIN DESIGNATIONS AND REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN INTERBASIN TRANSFER CERTIFICATE FOR WATER TRANSFERS BETWEENTHOSEBETWEEN CERTAIN SUBBASINS WITHIN THESAMEMAJORTHE SAME MAJOR RIVER BASIN AND TO REVISE 2020 FARM ACT TMDL TRANSPORT FACTOR CALCULATION APPLICABILITY.

9 ELIMINATE SUBBASIN DESIGNATIONS FOR IBT PROCESS SECTION 1.(a) LegislativeG.S. Findings.

– The General Assembly finds the following, with respect to eliminating the Haw River, Deep River, and Contentnea Creek subbasin designations:

(1) These subbasins serve rapidly growing areas facing urgent water supply and economic development pressures.

(2) Flexibility in intrabasin transfers within the Neuse and Cape Fear major river basins strengthens drought resilience and supports emergency water management.

(3) Reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers allows municipalities and utilities in these subbasins to better plan and finance regional water infrastructure, improving affordability for consumers.

(4) Existing watershed planning and management systems within the Cape Fear River and Neuse River major river basins mitigate potential environmental impacts caused by intrabasin transfers.

SECTION 1.(b) G.S.

The term "river basin" includes anyportion oftheriverbasin thatextendsintoanotherstate.Anyareathatextendsinto outsideanotherstate. North Carolina that is not included in one of the river basins listed in this subdivision comprises a separate river basin.

Anyarea outside North Carolina that is not included in one of the river basins listed in this subdivision comprises a separate river basin.

*S605-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 c.

2-3 CapeFearRiver.River,whichincludesHaw River (2-1)(2-1), Deep River (2-2), South River (2-4), and DeepNortheast Cape Fear River (2-2).(2-5).

3-1 Catawba River.River.River, which includes South Fork Catawba River (3-2).

4-1 Chowan River.River.River, which includes Meherrin River (4-2).

*S605-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 m.

5-2 French Broad River.River.River, which includes Nolichucky River (5-1) and Pigeon River (5-3).

7-1 Little Tennessee River.River.River, which includes Tuskasegee (Tuckasegee) River (7-2).

9-1 Lumber River.River.River, which includes Big Shoe Heel Creek (9-2), and Waccamaw River (9-3).

10-1 Neuse River.River, which includes Contentnea Creek (10-2).(10-2) and Trent River (10-3).

15-1 Tar River.River.River, which includes Fishing Creek (15-2) and Pamlico River and Sound (15-3).

River, which includes South Yadkin River (18-2), Uwharrie River (18-3), and Rocky River (18-4).

…." SECTION 1.(c)1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to water withdrawals or transfers initiated or modified on or after that date.

Wastewater Discharge Requirements), nutrient offset credits shall be Page 2 Senate Bill 605-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 applied to a wastewater permit by applying the TMDL transport factor to the permitted wastewater discharge and to the nutrient offset credits as specified in the 1999 Phase I TMDL.

Page 2 Senate Bill 605-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "SECTION15.(b) Subsection (a)ofthis sectionapplies onlyto wastewater dischargepermit applications for a local government located in the Neuse River Basin with a customer base of fewer than 15,000 connections.Basin.

Senate Bill 605-Second605-First Edition Page 3