AGENDA #16a(1)

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE NORTH CAORLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO ADOPT JORDAN LAKE RESERVOIR NUTRIENT RULES AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE NO LATER THAN 2011 FOR NITROGEN REDUCTIONS (2007-06-11/R-16)

WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir lies almost entirely within the boundaries of Chatham county; and

WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake reservoir is a popular recreation destination for over 1,000,000 visitors each year, including residents of Chatham and adjoining counties; and

WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir is on the EPA 303(d) list of impaired waters due to excessive nutrients from wastewater effluents and non-point source pollution; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina first directed local governments to reduce nitrogen levels from wastewater treatment plant effluent into the Jordan Lake Reservoir in 2007 under the “Clean Water Responsibility Act”; and

WHEREAS, those nitrogen levels have not been reduced; and

WHEREAS, the draft Jordan Lake Reservoir Supply Nutrient Strategy and Rules developed with the Stakeholder group and presented by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality to the Water Quality Committee of the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission in May 2005, set an implementation deadline for wastewater treatment plan nitrogen reductions beginning with calendar year 2011; and

WHEREAS, the nutrient loading into Jordan Lake Reservoir has increased since the rule making process began, and will continue to increase due to population growth in the greater Triangle and Triad areas of North Carolina until nitrogen reductions are required by law; and

WHEREAS, the draft Jordan Lake Reservoir Supply Nutrient Strategy and Rules presented by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality to the Water Quality Committee of the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission in January 2007 recommended that the implementation of the wastewater treatment plant nitrogen reductions be pushed back to 2016; and

WHEREAS, the threat to the water quality in Jordan Lake Reservoir and to the drinking water supply of Chatham County and other drinking water users as well as recreational users will be increased by the recommended delay in implementations from 2011 to 2016;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission is hereby requested to adopt Jordan Lake Reservoir Supply Nutrient Strategy and Rules with a compliance date for nitrogen loading reduction requirements of no later than 2011, as originally recommended, in order to protect the public health and welfare of the citizens of Chatham and other counties who adjoin the Jordan Lake Reservoir.

This the 11^th day of June, 2007.