Gov. Hunt's No. 1 environmental priority is restoring and protecting NC's water quality. His 1998 budget would step up regulatory compliance; boost research and monitoring to support cleanup efforts; reduce nonpoint pollution from nutrients and sedimentation; and protect fisheries stocks.

• River Basin Management - Gov. Hunt's budget will expand the state's basinwide water quality protection plans for each of the state's 17 major river basins, through the use of conservation grants, education, data management, soil and water conservation, gathering stream flow information, and improving protection measures.

$3.1 million

• Monitoring, Research, and Fish Kill Response - Ensuring the safety of NC's waters requires monitoring for problems, water quality research, and responding quickly to fish kills in order to determine the cause. Gov. Hunt is calling for an increase in water quality monitoring in rivers and along the recreational areas of the coast and more funding for research on pfiesteria and nutrient reduction. Gov. Hunt's budget would also continue the work of the Neuse River Rapid Response Team, which responds to fish kills, and set up a similar team for the Tar-Pamlico River.

$8 million

• Reduce Nonpoint Pollution - Reducing water pollution will require reducing the amount of nutrients and sediment that run off of fields and construction sites. To do so, Gov. Hunt would increase the funds of the Agricultural Cost Share Program -- which helps farmers prevent nutrient run-off -- and add more inspectors and technical assistance for erosion control at construction and logging sites.

$8.3 million

• Improve Compliance with Water Quality Laws - Gov. Hunt's budget would improve the state's efforts to ensure safe drinking water and ensure proper treatment of wastewater. The budget would increase the number of water quality inspectors, on-site inspection of drinking wells, and technical assistance and low interest loans to municipal water/wastewater treatment plants.

$11.5 million

• Improve Marine Fisheries Management - Funding the Marine Fisheries Reform Act is necessary to support the state's goal of maintaining a healthy coastal environment and a healthy commercial and recreational fishing industry. Gov. Hunt's request will cover the commercial license program, equipment maintenance, information technology, fisheries management and coastal fisheries habitat protection plans.

$4.1 million

Sub-Total: Clean Water Budget $34.9 million

Parks and Environmental Education

• Stewardship of Parks and Natural Areas - To protect North Carolina's natural areas for future generations necessitates good knowledge of all natural areas and good management of state parks. This year, Gov. Hunt wants to inventory the resources in natural areas across one-third of the state, and he wants to, increase protection of natural resources in state parks.

$1.8 million

• Environmental Education - The budget would continue the Project Tomorrow program, which provides grants for public schools and communities to get environmental education materials. The Governor is also calling for a centralized environmental information center to serve as a one-stop help desk for the public, so that people and businesses can access information quickly and easily.

$400,000

Other Projects

• PCB Landfill in Warren County - This landfill needs detoxification, because it has filled with water and is leaking. After two years of study, scientists, state officials, and local residents have selected a safe clean-up method. The total cost will be $24 million, some of which is expected from federal sources.

$15 million

• Jocassee Gorge - Funds will be used for land acquisition for the preservation of the Gorges of Lake Jocassee in Transylvania County.

$7.5 million

• Beach renourishment and Hurricane Protection - Hurricanes and other storms have eroded North Carolina's beaches, leaving them even more vulnerable to future storms. The renourishment projects will protect areas from natural disasters or help them recover after a storm. Some of the money may be used as a state match for federal funds.

$10 million

Total Environment Budget: $101 million

Also includes items not listed but detailed in the budget.

Date Posted: May 5

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