Source: NCDENR, 9/10/15

A state commission will host a public hearing next week on a draft environmental impact statement for a certificate the Union County Public Works is requesting to meet projected future water demands.

The Environmental Management Commission, or EMC, will receive comments on the draft EIS at the 6 p.m. Sept. 16 meeting at the Norwood Community Building, 247 West Turner St., Norwood. As part of its role in making rules to protect the environment, the EMC carries out the interbasin transfer law.  

Union County Public Works is seeking a water transfer certificate to move 23 million gallons of water a day from the Yadkin River basin to the Rocky River basin. The amount is calculated on an average day of the maximum month basis, based on state regulations. The amount of water the public utility is requesting to transfer is based upon 2050 water demand projections to meet anticipated growth in Union County.

The Union County Public Works Water System provides drinking water to residents in Union County, except for Monroe, and serves customers in the Catawba River basin and the Rocky River basin. Most of the water supplied by Union County comes from the Catawba River through the Catawba River Water Treatment Plant in Lancaster County, S.C.

Union county has a grandfathered transfer capacity of 5 million gallons of water a day from the Catawba River basin to the Rocky River basin. The proposed request will avoid the need for an increase in the amount transferred from the Catawba River basin. The proposed intake will be on Lake Tillery near the existing location of the intake for Norwood in the Yadkin River basin.
The EMC will consider all public comments received and responses to comments prepared by N.C. Division of Water Resources’ staff, when the commission determines the adequacy of the environmental impact statement. The EMC is expected to consider public comments about the EIS at its Jan. 14, 2016 meeting. Once the EIS is determined to be adequate, Union County Public Works may submit its petition to the EMC for an interbasin transfer certificate. The EMC will hold at least two additional public hearings for the draft determination on whether to grant the certificate. A final determination from the EMC is expected in late 2016.

The public can see the Union County Public Works’ draft EIS at: http://www.ncwater.org/?page=420. The document may also be viewed at the hearing or during normal business hours at the N.C. Division of Water Resources’ Raleigh offices, 512 North Salisbury St., Room 1117H.

Staff members with the N.C. Division of Water Resources request that parties submit written copies of their oral comments. Based on the number of people who wish to speak, the length of oral presentations may be limited.

People who are unable to attend can mail written comments to Kim Nimmer, Division of Water Resources, 1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1611. Comments may also be submitted electronically to dwr.ibt@ncdenr.gov. All comments must be postmarked or emailed by Oct. 16.