Amends GS 143-215.1 by adding new subsection (f6), concerning permits for new or expanded wastewater treatment systems that will be located in a county with a projected population growth rate above 2% annually or in a county that is one of the top 20% of the fastest growing counties in NC, by population. Requires permitting under authority granted by the NC Environmental Management Commission (Commission) to comply with the new subsection’s procedures and timelines and requires the Commission to act on a permit application as quickly as possible. Provisions that apply include:

(1)   Commission must perform an administrative review of either a new application or resubmittal of an application determined incomplete within 30 working days of receipt to determine if the application is administratively complete. Details response and action Commission must take if application is complete, including notification that the 90-calendar day technical review period has started in the letter or response, and the response and action required if it is incomplete. Requires Commission to develop an application package checklist identifying all items and information required for an application to be administratively complete. Prohibits Commission from requesting additional information not previously identified as missing or required in an additional information letter or electronic response from the original submittal, but permits Commission to respond to a subsequent letter or response with a request for additional information, limited to information missing from that subsequent letter or response.

(2)   Provides procedure that the Commission and applicant are required to comply with if, during the 90-day calendar technical review period, the Commission determines additional information is required to continue processing the application.

(3)   Requires Commission to hold a public hearing prior to issuing a permit whenever it finds, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of public interest in the permit, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 124.12.

(4)   Requires the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to either approve or deny an application within either 90 days (if no public hearing is held) or 120 days (if public hearing is held) of the date the application is deemed complete.

Appropriates $10,000 for 2026-27 from the General Fund to DEQ to implement these expedited permitting requirements.