§ 143-211. Declaration of public policy.
Article 21.
Water and Air Resources.
Part1. Organization and Powers Generally; Control of Pollution.
§ 143‑211. Declaration of public policy.
(a) It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this Stateto provide for the conservation of its water and air resources. Furthermore, itis the intent of the General Assembly, within the context of this Article andArticles 21A and 21B of this Chapter, to achieve and to maintain for thecitizens of the State a total environment of superior quality. Recognizing thatthe water and air resources of the State belong to the people, the GeneralAssembly affirms the State's ultimate responsibility for the preservation anddevelopment of these resources in the best interest of all its citizens anddeclares the prudent utilization of these resources to be essential to thegeneral welfare.
(b) It is the public policy of the State to maintain, protect,and enhance water quality within North Carolina. Further, it is the publicpolicy of the State that the cumulative impact of transfers from a source riverbasin shall not result in a violation of the antidegradation policy set out in40 Code of Federal Regulations § 131.12 (l July 1997 Edition) and the statewideantidegradation policy adopted pursuant thereto.
(c) It is the purpose of this Article to create an agency whichshall administer a program of water and air pollution control and waterresource management. It is the intent of the General Assembly, through theduties and powers defined herein, to confer such authority upon the Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources as shall be necessary to administer acomplete program of water and air conservation, pollution abatement and controland to achieve a coordinated effort of pollution abatement and control with otherjurisdictions. Standards of water and air purity shall be designed to protecthuman health, to prevent injury to plant and animal life, to prevent damage topublic and private property, to insure the continued enjoyment of the naturalattractions of the State, to encourage the expansion of employmentopportunities, to provide a permanent foundation for healthy industrialdevelopment and to secure for the people of North Carolina, now and in thefuture, the beneficial uses of these great natural resources. It is the intentof the General Assembly that the powers and duties of the EnvironmentalManagement Commission and the Department of Environment and Natural Resourcesbe construed so as to enable the Department and the Commission to qualify toadminister federally mandated programs of environmental management and toqualify to accept and administer funds from the federal government for suchprograms. (1951, c. 606;1967, c. 892, s. 1; 1973, c. 1262, s. 23; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1979, 2nd Sess.,c. 1158, s. 2; 1989, c. 135, s. 1; c. 727, s. 218(102); 1997‑443, s.11A.119(a); 1998‑168, s. 1.)