Environmental Review for PWS-funded projects

Environmental Review Overview Page

Why do we do Environmental Review?

These webpages are written for applicants seeking approval of plans and specifications for drinking water projects. Such projects are subject to the State Environmental Policy Act [G.S. 113A - SEPA]. If the project seeks funding under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan program, the project is also subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

SEPA requires the state or a local government to perform an environmental review before spending public money (including local money) for "major projects." The purpose of this environmental review is to make sure that the state or local government does not unnecessarily contribute to the overall degradation of the environment. It is important to note that the state and local governments can undertake particular projects with negative environmental impacts if the benefits justify the impacts.

These webpages include information of special interest to applicants seeking state financial assistance for drinking water projects.

What is Environmental Review?

In an environmental review, the applicant reviews the need the project is intended to address. The applicant describes various alternatives to meet the need. The applicant compares the costs, environmental impacts, and efficacy of the alternatives (traditionally including the "do-nothing" alternative). Considering all these elements, the applicant recommends one alternative - the proposed project.

Drinking water projects receiving financial assistance from the Public Water Supply Section, Division of Environmental Health (PWS) may be subject to one of three levels of environmental review:

Small projects ("non-major projects") may be exempt from substantive environmental review. These exempt projects receive a "categorical exclusion from environmental review," or CE. For more information on CE, go to the CE-overview page.
Larger projects ("major projects") that require substantive environmental review will need to perform an "Environmental Assessment" (EA) and receive a "Finding of no Significant Impact" (FONSI). For more information on EAs and FONSIs, go to the EA-overview page.
If the project has a significant environmental impact and cannot obtain a FONSI, the owner may choose to prepare a more extensive environmental document called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and receive a Record of Decision (ROD). For more information on conducting an EIS, please use the e-mail link at the bottom of this page.

Where can I find more information on environmental review?

The North Carolina State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA or NCEPA) is available at http://www.enr.state.nc.us/files/envact.pdf
The rules implementing the SEPA are available at http://www.enr.state.nc.us/files/criteria.pdf
For more information on categorical exclusions, go to the CE-overview page.
To apply for categorical exclusion, fill out the CE request form.
For more information on environmental assessments, go to the EA-overview page.
For guidelines for performing an environmental assessment, go to http://www.enr.state.nc.us/files/separ.pdf, or the Division of Environmental Health's hypertext version.
See the factsheet on submitting an environmental assessment to PWS.
See the factsheet on federally recognized CE.
You can visit the State Clearinghouse, which is part of the North Carolina Department of Administration.
The North Carolina Environmental Bulletin contains information on pending environmental reviews.
You can add your name to the mailing list to receive notice of pending CEs and FONSIs.
DENR's Customer Service Center discusses SEPA in this link.

Home For comments or questions about this page: E-mail - Vincent Tomaino

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