RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Senate is going along with scaling back environmental reviews North Carolina government agencies must perform on their own projects.
The chamber gave tentative approval Thursday to narrow application of the State Environmental Policy Act. The 1971 law evaluates potential environmental problems associated with spending public dollars or disturbing public lands.
Supporters of the changes say the reviews aren’t as necessary today given other regulations and permitting. State reviews would be required when more than $20 million in state funds are being spent or more than 20 acres of public land disturbed.
Conservation groups say reviews are still important, and no one knows how many projects would fall through regulatory cracks.
A second Senate vote is expected next week. The House passed a different version of the bill last month.
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