Source: PRESS RELEASE, 4/20/11

Gov. Perdue today signed two measures intended to help with the cleanup from a line of storms that moved across the state April 16.

Gov. Perdue signed Executive Order 89, which will help farmers clear their land and return to their livelihoods in the wake of the storms.

“Across North Carolina, our farmers took a big hit from this line of storms,” Gov. Perdue said. “Agriculture is still the heart of so many of our communities, and we must do whatever we can to put our farmers back to work.”

The order allows the N.C. Department of Transportation to pick up debris from the edge of a farmer’s property. Without the order, farmers would have to move debris all the way to the state right-of-way.

Executive Order 89 requires the NCDOT to work with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the N.C. Department of Agriculture, the N.C. Department of Correction and local county officials to aid farmers.

Gov. Perdue also signed into law House Bill 268, which makes further accommodations for property owners who need to clean up storm debris.

The bill allows property owners to bury debris without a permit until June 1. It also relaxes some of the restrictions on burning debris. Property owners must still consult with local officials and may still be required to obtain a permit to burn under the state’s laws that seek to prevent forest fires.