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. General Resources Tar-Pamlico Strategy Fact Sheet Tar-Pamlico Basin Plans and Reports Tar-Pamlico Model Report (1995) Tar River TMDL (1994) Nutrient Sensitive Waters Designation Report (1989) Tar-Pamlico Goals Rule .0730 Nutrient Strategy Definitions Rule .0701 Agriculture Agricultural operations in the basin are collectively subject to two nutrient goals: a 30% reduction for nitrogen loading and no increase in phosphorus loading. 2019 Tar-Pamlico Agriculture Rule Progress Report Division of Soil and Water Conservation: Tar-Pamlico NSW Strategy Nutrient Management Tools Rules: 15A NCAC 02B .0732 Riparian Buffers 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. Buffer Rule Fact Sheet DWR Buffer Mitigation Program N.C. Division of Mitigation Services Tar-Pamlico Basin Buffer Protection Rule and related rules Stormwater and Nutrient Offsets 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: Tar-Pamlico 2003 Model Stormwater Program Coastal Plain Export Calculation Worksheets Piedmont Export Calculation Worksheets DWR Nutrient Offset Program DEMLR Stormwater Permitting Program Rules: 15A NCAC 02B .0731, .0703 2021 Local Program Guide 2021 Model Ordinance 2021 Model Stormwater Management Plan Wastewater 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. Phase IV agreement (2015) Tar-Pamlico Basin Association Tar-Pamlico Basin Association Permit Rule: 15A NCAC 02B .0733 Monitoring and Assessment DWR and its partners actively monitor water quality in the Tar-Pamlico basin and routinely assess its performance against existing water quality standards. DWR Estuarine Monitoring Team DWR Ecosystems Branch DWR Monitoring Coalition Program DWR Modeling and Assessment Branch North Carolina 303(d) list Contacts Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Coordinator Trish D'Arcontetrish.darconte@ncdenr.gov(919) 707-3678 Nonpoint Source Planning Branch Chief Rich Gannonrich.gannon@ncdenr.gov(919) 707-3673
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. General Resources Tar-Pamlico Strategy Fact Sheet Tar-Pamlico Basin Plans and Reports Tar-Pamlico Model Report (1995) Tar River TMDL (1994) Nutrient Sensitive Waters Designation Report (1989) Tar-Pamlico Goals Rule .0730 Nutrient Strategy Definitions Rule .0701 Agriculture Agricultural operations in the basin are collectively subject to two nutrient goals: a 30% reduction for nitrogen loading and no increase in phosphorus loading. 2019 Tar-Pamlico Agriculture Rule Progress Report Division of Soil and Water Conservation: Tar-Pamlico NSW Strategy Nutrient Management Tools Rules: 15A NCAC 02B .0732 Riparian Buffers 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. Buffer Rule Fact Sheet DWR Buffer Mitigation Program N.C. Division of Mitigation Services Tar-Pamlico Basin Buffer Protection Rule and related rules Stormwater and Nutrient Offsets 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: Tar-Pamlico 2003 Model Stormwater Program Coastal Plain Export Calculation Worksheets Piedmont Export Calculation Worksheets DWR Nutrient Offset Program DEMLR Stormwater Permitting Program Rules: 15A NCAC 02B .0731, .0703 2021 Local Program Guide 2021 Model Ordinance 2021 Model Stormwater Management Plan Wastewater 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. Phase IV agreement (2015) Tar-Pamlico Basin Association Tar-Pamlico Basin Association Permit Rule: 15A NCAC 02B .0733 Monitoring and Assessment DWR and its partners actively monitor water quality in the Tar-Pamlico basin and routinely assess its performance against existing water quality standards. DWR Estuarine Monitoring Team DWR Ecosystems Branch DWR Monitoring Coalition Program DWR Modeling and Assessment Branch North Carolina 303(d) list Contacts Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Coordinator Trish D'Arcontetrish.darconte@ncdenr.gov(919) 707-3678 Nonpoint Source Planning Branch Chief Rich Gannonrich.gannon@ncdenr.gov(919) 707-3673
