A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the department of agriculture and consumer services and the division of soil and water conservation in the department of environment and natural resources to continue to work with the farm bureau and other agricultural leaders and organizations to develop a plan to identify and report agricultural water infrastructure needs, as recommended by the legislative Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in conjunction with the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Farm Bureau, and the State's other agricultural leaders and organizations is currently in the process of developing a strategic plan for protecting agricultural water resources.  The General Assembly directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to continue to work with the Farm Bureau, farmers, and other agricultural leaders and organizations to develop a plan, to be updated on a regular basis, that will identify agricultural water infrastructure needs that are not accounted for in the Environmental Protection Agency surveys of water and wastewater infrastructure needs.  The plan shall also provide a mechanism for reporting the results of the data gathered to the General Assembly in a manner that is helpful in assessing legislative and budgetary issues that the General Assembly may need to address.  The plan may also address methods to identify current and future agricultural water use needs and methods to ensure that those needs are met; water conservation practices; and water efficiency measures.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shall report to the Legislative Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure by November 1, 2010, regarding the development of the plan, the proposed methodology and time frame for implementing the plan, the estimated cost of the plan, and any legislative changes needed to implement the plan.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.