The
Upper Cullasaja Watershed Association would like to bring
to your attention a particular pending legislative act that
is currently in committee. This legislation is called "The
Safe Artificial Slopes Act" and it focuses on safe artificial
slope construction in mountainous regions - a topic UCWA has
espoused for years.
The Safe
Artificial Slopes Act requires local governments to adopt
ordinances to regulate site planning, design and construction
of artificial slopes in mountainous areas to promote safe
and stable slopes for development and to reduce the likelihood
of slope failures on developed and disturbed land, in order
to protect human safety and property. The act would direct
the Sedimentation Control Commission to assist local governments
in development and implementation of safe slope construction
programs.
Additionally,
it would provide for the disclosure in real estate transactions
of landslide hazards to purchasers of properties located in
areas vulnerable to landslides as indicated on maps prepared
by the North Carolina Geological Society.
This pending
legislation, sponsored by Ray Rapp (Madison-D), Phil Haire
(Jackson-D), Susan Fisher (Buncombe-D), and so-sponsored by
Rick Glazier (Cumberland-D), Pricey Harrison (Guilford-D);
recognizes many of the specific needs, the unique soil conditions
and the interrelationships of topography and water quality
of the mountainous areas of western North Carolina.
The Safe
Artificial Slopes Act addresses landslide areas, which are
a threat to clean water and public safety. Until the Peek's
Creek tragedy, few people knew that many parts of mountainous
western North Carolina were prone to landslides. NCGS presented
a landslide forum some months ago in Franklin. Artificial
slopes are particularly susceptible to landslides - especially
in the often random, ad hoc manner in which they are constructed.
The entire bill is now in House Committees and due to be presented
in N.C. Senate shortly can be viewed at: www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2007&BillID=H1756.
Whether
or not this bill is enacted is one thing; however, the principles,
techniques and practices described in the bill should be those
upon which artificial slope construction is based.
The easy-to-build-upon
land in the Upper Cullasaja Watershed has long since been
built-out. The mountainous land left, if built upon, would
require the construction of artificial slopes that must be
safe to the public and safe for water quality. Do you have
a question for UCWA? Please email us at ucwa@msn.com.
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