North Carolina Established a Process for Decisions Like This
Interbasin transfers affect multiple communities and multiple river basins. Recognizing that, the North Carolina General Assembly established a formal review process to ensure these decisions are based on sound science, public participation and careful regulatory review.
The process is intentionally detailed. It requires environmental analysis, consideration of alternatives, public input and review by the Environmental Management Commission before any transfer can be approved.
Fuquay-Varina’s application has followed that process from the beginning.
The EMC’s Role
The Environmental Management Commission is responsible for determining whether an interbasin transfer satisfies the standards established under North Carolina law.
In making that determination, the Commission considers a number of factors, including:
- The need for the proposed transfer.
- Potential impacts on the source river basin.
- Potential impacts on the receiving river basin.
- Reasonable alternatives.
- Cumulative impacts.
- The public interest.
The Environmental Impact Statement was prepared to provide the Commission with the information needed to evaluate each of those considerations.
Five Years of Review
Fuquay-Varina’s application did not arrive before the Commission overnight.
Since 2020, the project has progressed through multiple stages of review, public engagement and technical analysis.
Project Timeline
Public Participation
Public involvement has been an important part of the review process from the beginning.
The application included public scoping meetings early in the Environmental Impact Statement process, followed by three public hearings after the completed Environmental Impact Statement was submitted.
At the request of stakeholders, the public comment period was extended by two additional months to provide additional time for review and comment.
All comments submitted during the process are part of the official record before the Environmental Management Commission.
What Happens Next
The Environmental Management Commission will determine whether the Environmental Impact Statement satisfies the requirements of North Carolina law.
If the Environmental Impact Statement is found to be adequate, the Commission will then consider the Town’s request for an Interbasin Transfer Certificate.
The Commission has the authority to approve the request, deny the request or approve the request with conditions.
Ongoing Oversight
Approval of an Interbasin Transfer Certificate is not the end of the process.
North Carolina law requires continued oversight after a certificate is issued. Certificate holders must comply with conservation requirements, drought management plans, monitoring and reporting requirements, and any additional conditions established by the Environmental Management Commission.
Those requirements help ensure approved transfers continue to operate as intended while providing accountability over time.
A Process Designed to Balance Interests
North Carolina’s interbasin transfer law recognizes that communities across the state depend on reliable water supplies.
The review process is designed to balance those needs by requiring applicants to demonstrate both the need for additional water and the environmental consequences of the proposed transfer before a decision is made.
Over the past five years, Fuquay-Varina has completed the studies, public engagement and technical review required by that process. The application now before the Environmental Management Commission reflects that work.