Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy

Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Overview

April 1, 2020 - Redopted Neuse & Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Rules are in effect. The Hearing Officers' report and Fiscal Note represent the culmination of five years (2015-2020) of work by a diverse group of stakeholders, the EMC, and DEQ staff. This report provides the history, process, costs & benefits, and outcomes of the rules readoption process.
 
Since the 1980s, nutrient-related pollution has created water quality problems in the Pamlico estuary. Excess amounts of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus have caused problems including low oxygen levels, extensive fish kills and harmful algal blooms. In response to these issues, North Carolina developed the Tar-Pamlico nutrient strategy, a set of rules designed to equitably regulate sources of nutrient pollution in the basin including wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural nutrient sources. The rules also protect riparian buffers and mandate training for professionals that apply fertilizer. The rules went into effect in 2000-2001 and seek to reduce nitrogen levels in the estuary by 30%, cap phosphorus levels at a 1991 baseline, and remove the Pamlico estuary from North Carolina’s impaired waters list.  This fact sheet describes key features of each nutrient strategy rule.
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Agricultural operations in the basin are collectively subject to two nutrient goals: a 30% reduction for nitrogen loading and no increase in phosphorus loading.  

Riparian buffers are subject to protection under the Tar-Pamlico strategy, with exceptions for uses that existed before the strategy was developed.  Some new uses are allowable as long as impacts are appropriately mitigated elsewhere.

Relatively populous areas in the basin are subject to rules that limit nutrient runoff from new development projects. If necessary, some nutrient loads can be offset by restoration projects in other areas after meeting onsite requirements.  The following jurisdictions are subject to the Tar-Pamlico new development stormwater rules:

City of Greenville | City of Henderson | City of Oxford | City of Rocky Mount |
Town of Tarboro | City of Washington | Beaufort County | Edgecombe County |
Franklin County | Nash County | Pitt County

Resources to assist in compliance with the Tar-Pamlico strategy include:

 

Members of the Tar-Pamlico Basin Association, a consortium of wastewater dischargers, limit their nutrient loading pursuant to an agreement with the Environmental Management Commission, DWR, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Other wastewater dischargers are also subject to nutrient limits as described in rule.

The Division is currently proposing to revise the language in the Tar-Pamlico Wastewater Rule (.0733) rule to fully incorporate the wastewater discharge requirements for the Tar-Pamlico Basin Association as currently established in their Group Discharge Permit and Agreement. Codifying the point source requirements in the rule adds benefits of establishing a more enforceable foundation for the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) driven requirements of the nutrient management strategy.  The proposed revisions to the Rule also provide an opportunity to modernize the language and improve the clarity of the requirements for the regulated community, while also providing the opportunity for stakeholder input on the proposed rule. 

Comments may be submitted to:  John Huisman, NC DEQ Division of Water Resources, Planning Section, 1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1611; phone (919) 707-3677; email john.huisman@deq.nc.gov. The comment period ends:  March 3, 2025 

DWR and its partners actively monitor water quality in the Tar-Pamlico basin and routinely assess its performance against existing water quality standards.

Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Coordinator
Trish D'Arconte
trish.darconte@ncdenr.gov
(919) 707-3678

Nonpoint Source Planning Branch Chief
Rich Gannon
rich.gannon@ncdenr.gov
(919) 707-3673

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