1Notice_Review_of_FEIS

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources

Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
John N. Morris, Director

1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
Phone: [phone] \ FAX: [phone] \ Internet: www.ncwater.org
An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer-50% Recycled\10% Post Consumer Paper

Cities of Concord and Kannapolis Proposed Interbasin Transfer

The public is invited to comment on the environmental impact statement (EIS) accompanying the request
by the cities of Concord and Kannapolis, NC for an interbasin transfer. The Cities of Concord and
Kannapolis have requested an interbasin transfer (IBT) certificate from the North Carolina Environmental
Management Commission for an average day IBT of up to 22 million gallons per day (MGD). The
associated maximum day IBT being requested is up to 36 MGD from the Catawba River Basin and up to
10 MGD from the Yadkin River Basin. Under the request, the total IBT from both source basins would
not exceed 36 MGD on a maximum day basis or 22 MGD on an average day basis.

Under the proposal, the applicants would meet short-term water supply demand increases using
interconnections with Charlotte (Catawba), Salisbury (Yadkin), and Albemarle (Yadkin). These
interconnections may be increased to meet long term demands or could be met by developing a raw water
supply from Lake Norman (Catawba) to supplement flows to Lake Howell and Kannapolis Lake. IBT
occurs because of consumptive use in and discharge to the Rocky River Basin via the Water and Sewer
Authority of Cabarrus County’s Rocky River Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The IBT certificate
is being requested to meet a projected cumulative water demand shortfall of 22 MGD (average day
demand) in 2035.

The EIS document may be downloaded at the DWR web site:

http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Concord/FEIS/

Notice of this public review is being made via either US Mail or email notice to:

1) persons who have registered a water withdrawal or transfer from either the Catawba or Yadkin River
Basin,
2) persons who have secured an interbasin transfer certificate from either the Catawba or Yadkin River
Basin,
3) persons who hold a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater discharge
permit exceeding 100,000 gallons per day for a discharge located in either the Catawba or Yadkin River
Basin,
NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Beginning of Review Period: May 26, 2006

Deadline for Comment Submittal: July 25, 2006

Page 2 of 7
4) the boards of County Commissioners of each county located either entirely or partially within the
Catawba or Yadkin River Basins,
5) the governing bodies of any public water supply system that withdraws water from either the Catawba
or Yadkin River Basin,
6) persons who participated in the on-going Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing
processes in either the Catawba or Yadkin River Basin,
7) appropriate media via press release,
8) persons who submitted comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project
which was undergoing public review in the Summer of 2005, and
9) persons who have expressed interest to the Division of Water Resources in being notified.

The public may view an electronic CD copy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during
operating hours at any of the following public libraries in the source and receiving basins:

ALEXANDER COUNTY LIBRARY
77 1st Avenue, SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681-2639
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Gary Hoyle, Director
[e-mail]

ANSON COUNTY
HAMPTON B. ALLEN LIBRARY
120 South Greene Street
Wadesboro, NC 28170-2773
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Phoebe Medlin, Branch Head
[e-mail]

AVERY COUNTY LIBRARY
289 Burnsville School Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
Phone: [phone]
Patty Bowers, Director

BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
204 South King Street
Morganton, NC 28655-3535
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Tresia Dodson, Director
[e-mail]

CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
27 Union Street, North
Concord, NC 28025-4793
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Tom Dillard, Director
[e-mail]

CABARRUS COUNTY
KANNAPOLIS BRANCH LIBRARY
1050 Mountain Street
Kannapolis, NC 28081-2000
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Teresa Prather, Branch Head
[e-mail]

CALDWELL COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
120 Hospital Avenue
Lenoir, NC 28645-4454
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Jim McKee, Director
[e-mail]

Page 3 of 7
CATAWBA COUNTY LIBRARY
115 West C Street
Newton, NC 28658-3397
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Karen Foss, Director
[e-mail]

CATAWBA COUNTY LIBRARY
SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY
2944 Highway 127 South
Hickory, NC 28602-5401
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Glenda Ramsey, Branch Head
[e-mail]

DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM
602 South Main Street
Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Ruth Ann Copley, Director
[e-mail]

DAVIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
371 North Main Street
Mocksville, NC 27028-2115
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Ruth Hoyle, Director
[e-mail]

FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
660 West Fifth Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, Director
[e-mail]

GASTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
(Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System)
1555 East Garrison Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28054-5156
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Cindy Moose, Director
[e-mail]

IREDELL COUNTY LIBRARY
PO Box 1810
201 North Tradd Street
Statesville, NC 28687-1810
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Steve L. Messick, Director
[e-mail]

LINCOLN COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
CHARLES R. JONAS LIBRARY
(Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System)
306 West Main Street
Lincolnton, NC 28092-2651
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Lesley Levine, Branch Head
[e-mail]

MCDOWELL COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
90 West Court Street
Marion, NC 28752-3999
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Elizabeth House, Acting Director
[e-mail]

Page 4 of 7
MECKLENBURG -- PUBLIC LIBRARY
OF CHARLOTTE & MECKLENBURG
COUNTY
310 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Charles Brown, Director
[e-mail]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIBRARY
215 West Main Street
Troy, NC 27371-2999
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Donna Windish, Branch Head
[e-mail]

RANDOLF COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
ASHEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
201 Worth Street
Asheboro, NC 27203-5593
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Suzanne Tate, Central Library Head
[e-mail]

RICHMOND COUNTY LIBRARY
THOMAS H. LEATH MEMORIAL
LIBRARY
412 East Franklin Street
Rockingham, NC 28379
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Anne Thrower, Branch Head
[e-mail]

ROWAN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
PO Box 4039
201 West Fisher Street
Salisbury, NC 28145-4039
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Phillip Barton, Director
[e-mail]

STANLY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
133 East Main Street
Albemarle, NC 28001-4993
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Penny Welling, Director
[e-mail]

STOKES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
KING PUBLIC LIBRARY
101 Pilot View Drive
King, NC 27021-0451
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Julie Raynor, Branch Head
[e-mail]

SURRY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
MOUNT AIRY PUBLIC LIBRARY
145 Rockford Street
Mount Airy, NC 27030-4797
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Pat Gwyn, Branch Head
[e-mail]

UNION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
316 East Windsor Street
Monroe, NC 28112-4844
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Martie Smith, Director
[e-mail]

Page 5 of 7
WATAUGA COUNTY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
140 Queen Street
Boone, NC 28607-3589
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
John Blake, Branch Head
[e-mail]

WILKES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
215 10th Street
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-4199
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Louise Humphrey, Branch Head
[e-mail]

YADKIN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
233 East Main Street
Yadkinville, NC 27055-0607
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Malinda Sells, Branch Head
[e-mail]

The public may also inspect the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during normal business
hours at the offices of DWR, 512 N. Salisbury Street, Room 1106, Archdale Building, Raleigh.

According to the EIS, there are no expected significant direct impacts in either the Catawba River
or Yadkin River Sub-Basins. Except during exceptional drought, no significant changes are
predicted in lake levels, downstream flows, or water supply withdrawals. Impacts during
exceptional drought are estimated and presented in the EIS. Direct impacts on water supply, water
quality, wastewater assimilation, fish and wildlife resources, navigation, or recreation are not
expected since there will be no significant changes in the hydrology of the system due to the
increased withdrawal.

The draft EIS concludes that there are no secondary impacts related to growth in either of the
source basins. However, the IBT will provide additional water supply to support growth and
development in the receiving basin. Mitigation measures presented in the EIS are expected to
mitigate secondary impacts related to growth and development in the receiving basin.

The draft EIS was circulated among agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. The Division of Water Quality, the Natural Heritage Program, and the Wildlife
Resources Commission were the commenting agencies. Their comments included concerns
concentrated on secondary and cumulative impacts in the receiving basin on aquatic habitat and
water quality. Suggested mitigation measures were discussed, such as stream buffers and
development ordinances/requirements to make sure buffers are protected during the development
process and stormwater management requirements, including low impact development measures.

Under the Regulation of Surface Water Transfers Act (G.S. 143-215.22I), persons intending to transfer
surface water from one river basin to another in the amount of 2.0 MGD or more, or increase an existing
transfer by 25 percent or more, must first obtain a certificate from the Environmental Management
Commission.

The Environmental Management Commission is seeking comments on two options with regard to the
interbasin transfer request. The options are: (a) grant the certificate including any conditions necessary to
achieve the purposes of the statute or to provide mitigation measures, including the possibility of lower
transfer amounts; or (b) deny the interbasin transfer request.
Page 6 of 7

The public is invited to comment on the following possible conditions and to suggest any other
appropriate conditions, including limitations on the amount of the transfer:

1. The Cities of Concord and Kannapolis may receive water under the certificate only if they
enact and maintain the following buffer definitions as part of their Unified Development
Ordinances (UDOs):
o A perennial stream buffer shall be an undisturbed area measured, at minimum, 50 feet
from the top of stream bank plus 20 feet of vegetated setback, totaling 70 feet; and
o An intermittent stream buffer shall be an undisturbed area measured from the top of
stream bank perpendicularly for a distance of 20 feet with an additional 10 feet of
vegetated setback, totaling 30 feet; and only if they enact and maintain the following
requirements within stream buffer areas:
o No new on-site sewage systems utilizing ground adsorption
o No new structures
o Maintenance of stream buffers to maintain sheet flow and provide for diffusion and
infiltration of runoff and filtering of pollutants
A substantial failure to enforce any ordinance implementing this condition will be considered
a violation of this condition.

2. The Cities of Concord and Kannapolis shall not provide to other municipalities and counties
water and/or sewer services unless such other municipalities and counties enact and maintain
UDOs at least as stringent as those of the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis, including the
stream buffer requirements. A substantial failure to enforce any ordinance implementing this
condition will be considered a violation of this condition. (Municipalities and counties
potentially affected include Harrisburg, Landis, Midland, Mount Pleasant, and Cabarrus
County.)

3. During periods of drought, the cities of Concord and Kannapolis shall require water
conservation measures at least as stringent as any in effect in any area of the source basins, and
shall not provide to other municipalities and counties water and/or sewer services unless such
other municipalities and counties require water conservation measures at least as stringent as
any in effect in any area of the source basins.

4. The holders of the certificate shall work with the Division of Water Resources to develop a
compliance and monitoring plan subject to approval by the Division. The plan will include
methodologies and reporting schedules for reporting the following information: maximum
daily transfer amounts, compliance with permit conditions, progress on mitigation measures,
and drought management. A copy of the approved plan will be kept on file with the Division
for public inspection. The holders of the certificate shall not receive any water under the
certificate until the Division has approved the plan in writing. The Division may modify the
compliance and monitoring plan as appropriate to enable the Division to assess compliance
with the certificate. Upon a request by the Division for any information that is appropriate to
assess compliance with the certificate, and in such time as the Division may prescribe, the
holder of the certificate shall provide such information. Upon a request by the Division to
inspect any facilities or equipment to assess compliance with the certificate, the holder of the
certificate shall allow such inspection.

Page 7 of 7
5. If, at any time, (a) the record upon which this certificate is based, including the Environmental
Impact Statement, is found to contain material, incorrect information, (b) new information
indicates that the impacts associated with the transfer are substantially different from the
projected impacts that formed the basis for certifying the IBT, or (c) the certificate holder is
found to be in violation of the certificate, the Environmental Management Commission may
reopen the certificate to add, modify, or delete any conditions to ensure continuing compliance
with the law, including mitigation of impacts and protection of availability of water in the
source basin during drought and/or emergency.

Written comments can be mailed to Phil Fragapane, Division of Water Resources, DENR, 1611 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1611. Comments may also be submitted electronically to
[e-mail]. All comments must be received before 5:00 PM on July 26, 2006. Mailed
and emailed comments will be given equal weight.

For more information or to download the EIS visit the Division of Water Resources’ website at

http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Concord/FEIS/

You may also contact Phil Fragapane in the Division of Water Resources at 919-715-0389, or email:
[e-mail]