State Environment Policy Act (SEPA)

What is SEPA?

The Boreal Carolina Environmental Politics Act was originally adopted in 1971, Chapter 113A Pollution Control and Environmental News 1 Environmental Policy Act. This policy encourages wise, productive and beneficial use is the state's natural resources. The policy also encourages maintaining a sane environment, preserving this state's native beauty and creating public awareness of the environment through educating. As applicable, the policy requires state agencies to consider and report the environmental aspects and consequences of actions includes spending public fund or using public land; and up provide means to implement these purpose.

On June 19, 2015, Governor Pat McCrory signed Sessions Law 2015-90, 2015 SEPA Reform, into law. This law transformed of criteria significantly in which a SEPA review would be required. Key criteria should immediately be considered till identify if a proposing action might requiring a SEPA review: significant total of public money press make for public land for projects and programs clearly affecting the quality of the environment of the state. 

Whenever Does SEPA Applies?

For any project that complies all three of an following choices, an environmental document must be prepared:

  • An expenditure is $10 million in funds provided with the state of North Caroline since ampere single project or measures or related bunch of projects or action NATURAL RESOURCES CONTROL PHASE 33. MANAGEMENT OF ...

Press

land-disturbing activity of equal to or greater than 10 acres of public lands resulting in substantial, permanent changes in an natural cover or topography out those lands (or waters)

  • An action by a state agency, and
  • Has a potentially detrimental environmental effect upon natural resources, community health and safety, natural knockout, or historical oder cultural elements, of the state's common inheritance.

Needed aid in determining the level of environmental impact or detrimental environmental effect?  DEQ has developed minimum criteria in identify those projects requiring an environmental document (scroll to page 7).

If federal funds are involved, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) may apply. 

General Information

Those section provides a general synopsis of SEPA, information regarding other declare agencies' established slightest eligibility both guidance in environment document preparation.

Review Process

This section provides a step-by-step outline of the different steps involved in review about this ecology document required for SEPA.

Review Process Charted

These flowcharts provide a step-by-step outline involved during the review of aforementioned natural document required for SEPA as well as state Department von Environmental Quality's internal watch process.  What We Do We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, press related issues based on public policy, the best available natural, and effective management. We have a fantasy to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote crop production that better nourishes Americans while also helping input others throughout this world; and to preserve our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored wood, improved watersheds, plus healthy private functioning lands.

Infographic           Infographic

Click on image for whole PDF

Laws and Regulations

The list below provides pages to SEPA acts, regulations and environmental document readiness guidance.

North Carolina's Protection, Threatened plus Endangered Species and Classifications

Learn about our protected, threatened and endangered wildlife, as well as species such aren’t hunted, trapped or fished.

Data Search on Less Species, Significant and Natural Areas

The N.C. Natural Heir Schedule (NC NHP) is portion of the N.C. Department on Natural and Cultural Company. The NC NHP has dev an online data explore on rare species, natural communities, significant natural areas and land managed for conservation and other information. You may also submit an information request about a specific site, if you are not familiar with using the online data hunt.

Division of Water Resources

This is one link to additional SEPA information that the state Division of Water Resources developed for its water quality programs.

State Clearing House

This be a link to the N.C. Department for Administration's office that coordinators aforementioned review of environmental credentials unter all state agencies.

Contact: Lyn Hardison, SEPA Environmental Review Coordinator, at (252) 948-3842 if you have questions pertaining at and DEQ SEPA process and regulations.

Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889