SECTION .1300 – DISCHARGES TO ISOLATED WETLANDS AND ISOLATED WATERS

 

15A NCac 02h .1301       SCOPE AND PURPOSE

(a)  The provisions of this Section shall apply to Division of Water Quality (Division) regulatory and resource management determinations regarding isolated wetlands and isolated classified surface waters. This Section shall only apply to discharges resulting from activities that require state review after the effective date of this Rule and which require a Division determination concerning effects on isolated wetlands and isolated classified surface waters. For the purpose of this Section, discharge shall be the deposition of dredged or fill material including but not limited to fill, earth, construction debris and soil.

(b)  This Section outlines the application and review procedures for permitting of discharges into isolated wetlands and isolated classified surface waters which have been listed in 15A NCAC 02B .0300. If the US Army Corps of Engineers or its designee determines that a particular water or wetland is isolated and not regulated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, then discharges to that water or wetland shall be covered by this Section (15A NCAC 02H .1301 - .1305).

(c)  Activities which result in a discharge may be authorized by the issuance of either an Individual Permit or a Certificate of Coverage to operate under a General Permit.  Individual Permits shall be issued on a case‑by‑case basis using the procedures outlined in this Section. These Individual Permits do not require approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Certificates of Coverage for General Permits may be issued for types or groups of discharges resulting from activities that are similar in nature and considered to have minimal impact.  General Permits include but are not limited to activities such as maintenance, utility lines, and road crossings.  General Permits shall be given public notice at least 45 days before the proposed effective date of the General Permit.  These General Permits do not require approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Individual Permits and Certificates of Coverage for General Permits shall be issued for a period of five years after which time the Permit shall be void unless the discharge is complete or an extension is granted as described in 15A NCAC 02H .1304(e).

(d)  Discharges resulting from activities which receive an Individual Permit or Certificate of Coverage under a General Permit pursuant to this Section shall not be considered to remove existing uses of the isolated wetland or isolated surface waters.

(e)  The following are exempt from this Section:

(1)           Activities that are described in 15A NCAC 02B .0230;

(2)           Discharges to isolated, man-made ponds or isolated ditches except for those wetlands or waters constructed for compensatory mitigation or for on-site stormwater management;

(3)           Discharges of treated effluent into isolated wetlands and isolated classified surface waters resulting from activities which receive NPDES Permits or State Non-Discharge Permits;

(4)           Discharges for water dependent structures as defined in 15A NCAC 02B .0202(67);

(5)           A discharge resulting from an activity if:

(A)          The discharge resulting from the activity requires a 401 Certification and 404 Permit and these were issued prior to the effective date of this Rule;

(B)          The project requires a state permit, such as landfills, NPDES discharges of treated effluent, Non-Discharge Permits, land application of residuals and road construction activities, that has begun construction or are under contract to begin construction and have received all required state permits prior to the effective date of this Rule;

(C)          The project is being conducted by the N.C. Department of Transportation and they have completed 30% of the hydraulic design for the project prior to the effective date of this Rule; or

(D)          The applicant has been authorized for a discharge into isolated wetlands or isolated waters for a project which has established a Vested Right under North Carolina law prior to the effective date of this Rule.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6); 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.3(c);

Codifier determined that findings did not meet criteria for temporary rule on September 26, 2001 and October 12, 2001;

Temporary Adoption Eff. October 22, 2001;

Eff. April 1, 2003.