GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 820*

Short Title:     Amend Natural Resources Laws 2007.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Allen, Gibson (Primary Sponsors);  Alexander, Harrison, and Wray.
Referred to:	Wildlife Resources, if favorable, Environment and Natural Resources.

March 15, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO AMend certain natural resources laws to clarify that draft Fishery Management Plans are not submitted for review to the Environmental review commission, as recommended by the environmental review commission.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113-182.1(c1) reads as rewritten:

"(c1)    The Department shall consult with the regional advisory committees established pursuant to G.S. 143B-289.57(e) regarding the preparation of each Fishery Management Plan. Before submission of a plan for review by the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture or the Environmental Review Commission, the Department shall review any comment or recommendation regarding the plan that a regional advisory committee submits to the Department within the time limits established in the Schedule for the development and adoption of Fishery Management Plans established by G.S. 143B-289.52. The Commission shall consult with the regional advisory committees regarding the development of any temporary management measure that the Commission determines to be necessary to ensure the viability of the species or fishery while the plan is being developed and regarding the development of any management measure to implement the plan. Before the Commission adopts a temporary management measure or a management measure to implement a plan, the Commission shall review any comment or recommendation regarding the management measure that a regional advisory committee submits to the Commission."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 113-182.1(e) reads as rewritten:

"(e)      The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall monitor progress in the development and adoption of Fishery Management Plans in relation to the Schedule for development and adoption of the plans established by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture on progress in developing and implementing the Fishery Management Plans on or before 1 September of each year. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture within 30 days of the completion or substantial revision of each proposed Fishery Management Plan. The Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture shall concurrently review each proposed Fishery Management Plan within 30 days of the date the proposed Plan is submitted by the Secretary. The Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture may submit comments and recommendations on the proposed Plan to the Secretary within 30 days of the date the proposed Plan is submitted by the Secretary."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.