MEDIA ADVISORY: State coastal commission will meet July 17 in Beaufort

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission will meet July 17 at the NOAA Beaufort Laboratory/ N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve Office, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort.

The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and is open to the public. A public comment period is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. At the chairman’s discretion, comments may be limited to three minutes per person.

Agenda items include:

• Variances – The commission will hear two requests for variances from its rules:
  • Robert Stallings IV seeks to dredge in Pittman Creek, a primary nursery area in Pamlico County, to provide an access channel to a proposed upland basin with boat ramp and dock;
  • The N.C. Department of Transportation seeks the use of sandbags for erosion control at the northern ferry dock on Ocracoke.
• Public Hearing – The commission will hold a public hearing on proposed modifications to 15A NCAC 7H .0304; 7H .0309 & 7H .0313; and15A NCAC 7H .0309 to allow more flexibility in the use of sandbags for erosion control around state port inlet areas.
• Consideration of Fiscal Analysis for proposed rule modifications – The commission is considering changes to 15A NCAC 07H.1900 to allow a general permit for temporary structures within coastal shorelines and ocean hazard areas of environmental concern to accommodate scientific research needs.
• Petition for Rulemaking – The commission will consider a Petition for Rulemaking that requests amending the exceptions to non-water dependent uses within the 30-foot buffer area of the rules for the Coastal Shorelines AEC, found at 15A NCAC 7H .0209(d)(10)(G) by expanding the reference to “landscaping” to include the use of impermeable materials or “hard landscaping.”
• CRC Science Panel Report – The commission will hear reports on science panel member appointments.
• Rule Development – The commission will discuss developing a rule to formalize criteria whereby structures and gear associated with a shellfish aquaculture lease are exempt from CAMA permit requirements.
• Closed Session – The commission will meet in closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to consult with its attorney regarding litigation in the case of Zito vs. Coastal Resources Commission.

A full meeting agenda and briefing packet can be found here. Times indicated on the agenda for individual items are subject to change.

The Coastal Resources Commission establishes policies for the state’s coastal management program and adopts rules regarding coastal development in North Carolina.