15A NCAC 07M .1201. DECLARATION OF GENERAL POLICY

(a)  The Atlantic Ocean is designated a Public Trust Area Of Environmental Concern (AEC) out to the three-mile state jurisdictional boundary; however, the ocean environment does not end at the state/federal jurisdictional boundary.  Mining activities impacting the federal jurisdiction ocean and its resources can, and probably would, also impact the state jurisdictional ocean and estuarine systems and vice-versa.  Therefore, it is state policy that every avenue and opportunity to protect the physical ocean environment and its resources as an integrated and interrelated system will be utilized.

(b)  The usefulness, productivity, scenic, historic and cultural values of the state's ocean waters will receive the greatest practical degree of protection and restoration.  No ocean mining shall be conducted unless plans for such mining include reasonable provisions for protection of the physical environment, its resources, and appropriate reclamation or mitigation of the affected area as set forth and implemented under authority of the Mining Act (G.S. 74-48) and Coastal Area Management Act (G.S. 113A-100).

(c)  Mining activities in state waters, or in federal waters insofar as the activities affect any land, water use or natural or historic resource of the state waters, shall be done in a manner that provides for protection of those resources and uses.  The siting and timing of such activities shall be consistent with established state standards and regulations and shall comply with applicable local land use plan policies, and AEC use standards.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113A-102; 113A-103; 113A-107;

Eff. August 1, 1998.