A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the department of environment and natural Resources, with the assistance of the department of agriculture and consumer services, to study issues related to and options for the management of wastewater generated by wineries, as recommended by the environmental review Commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall study issues related to the management of wastewater generated by wineries.  In conducting this study, the Department shall evaluate various options that may be available for the treatment and disposal of winery wastewater.  Options to be considered include, but are not limited to, disposal of wastewater at an existing wastewater treatment facility either by connecting to a wastewater collection system or by pumping and hauling the wastewater, subsurface disposal of wastewater, and land application of wastewater using spray or drip irrigation.  The evaluation shall consider the extent to which any treatment of wastewater may be necessary and appropriate setback requirements where land application is employed.  The evaluation shall also consider the costs and permitting requirements, including fees charged by the State and local governments, associated with each option.  In evaluating permitting requirements, the Department shall consider whether a general permit or a generic individual permit should be developed for any of the available wastewater management options.  The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Environmental Management Commission and the Environmental Review Commission on or before 1 January 2003.
SECTION 2.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall provide assistance and advice to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the conduct of the study required by Section 1 of this act.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs shall provide information and assistance to winery owners and prospective winery owners on request to enable them to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of the various options for wastewater management and how to comply with the permitting requirements associated with each option.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.