N.C. Gen. Stat. § 162A-26 (2026)

This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Regional Sewage Disposal Planning Act of 1971." (1971, c. 870, s. 1.)

§ 162A-27.  Definitions of "regional sewage disposal system" and "comprehensive planning."

For the purposes of this Article "regional sewage disposal  system" is defined as a public sewage disposal system of a municipality, county, sanitary district, or other political subdivision of the State, or combination thereof, which provides, is intended to provide, or is capable of providing adequate collection, treatment, purification and disposal of sewage to a substantial portion of the population within a county, or a region composed of all or parts of two or more counties, or to a metropolitan area in two or more counties. "Comprehensive planning" is defined as that planning which is a prerequisite for qualifying for receipt of federal and/or State grant funds for preparation of plans and specifications and for actual construction of regional sewage disposal systems. (1971, c. 870, s. 1; 1975, c. 251, s. 1.)

§ 162A-28.  Role and function of Environmental Management Commission.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, in  order to provide a framework for comprehensive planning of regional sewage disposal systems and for orderly coordination of local actions relating to sewage disposal, to make possible the most efficient disposal of sewage and to help realize economies of scale in sewage disposal systems, shall perform the following functions:

(1) Identify major sources of sewage for regional systems and sewer system interconnections as may be desirable and feasible.

(2) Identify geographical areas of the State suitable for the development of regional sewage disposal systems that meet federal and State grant requirements.

(3) Establish priorities for regionalization.

(4) Develop plans for connecting proposed regional sewage disposal systems to major sources of sewage and for such sewer system interconnections as may be desirable and feasible.

(5) Review and approve plans for proposed regional sewage disposal systems and for proposed municipal and countywide systems which are compatible with a regional plan.

(6) Administer a State program of financial assistance to local governments and regional planning agencies for the development of comprehensive plans for regional sewage disposal systems or county systems compatible with regional plans.

(7) Provide technical assistance to local and regional planning agencies and to consulting engineering firms. (1971, c. 870, s. 1; 1973, c. 1262, s. 23; 1975, c. 251, s. 2.)