NCACC Environmental policy statement

Introduction

Environmental issues transcend governmental boundaries and therefore require close coordination of policy and action by federal, state and local governments. The aim of public policy addressing environmental issues should be to assure the public health, protect vital natural resources and enhance sound development while protecting individual property rights.

County governments in North Carolina must play a key role in the development and implementation of environmental policy. Powers delegated to the counties for protection of the public health and regulations of development are important tools for carrying out measures to protect land, air and water resources.

State and Local Responsibilities

Protection of the environment must be a shared effort between the state and local government. The Association believes that the following principles should guide the relationship between the state and local governments in the area of environmental protection:

• State agencies charged with the responsibility for developing administrative rules to implement federal and state environmental policies should involve local governments in the process at the earliest stages of development and should proceed only after thorough analysis of health risks and fiscal impacts.
• If state agencies issue permits for activities affecting the environment, affected local governments should be given ample opportunity to comment on all proposed permits in terms of consistency with local plans and policies.
• If state law delegates responsibility for implementation, monitoring and enforcement of environmental policy to local governments, the state should provide, through law and regulation, for optimum flexibility at the local level in carrying out these responsibilities.
• State law and administrative rules should allow local governments maximum discretion in setting fees for such services as inspections, issuance of permits, monitoring activities and enforcement.
• If state law mandates that all local governments assume new or expanded responsibilities for protection of the environment that previously were considered to be discretionary activities at the local level, the General Assembly should provide funding for expenditures resulting from the mandate. If state law mandates that state agencies undertake environmental monitoring activities, the General Assembly must provide state resources necessary to undertake these monitoring responsibilities in a timely manner.

Balancing Development and Environmental Protection

All human activities have an impact on the environment. County governments believe that public policy on environmental protection must recognize this fact and provide a rational balance between these interests. To that end, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners believes that it is imperative that all initiatives to protect the quality of our natural environment be carefully evaluated in terms of relative costs and benefits and actual risks posed to human health.