PUBLIC NOTICE: Town of Fuquay-Varina Proposed Interbasin Transfer

Town of Fuquay-Varina Proposed Interbasin Transfer

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

October 14, 2020, 6:30 PM

Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center

(overflow parking lot)

1192 US Hwy 64 West Business

Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312

October 20, 2020, 6:30 PM

Cary Towne Center Mall

(parking lot facing former Sears location adjacent to Cary Towne Blvd)

1105 Walnut Street

Cary, NC 27511

October 21, 2020, 6:30 PM

Cross Creek Mall

(parking lot adjacent to Macy’s at intersection of Skibo and Morganton Roads)

419 Cross Creek Mall

Fayetteville, NC 28303

The Town of Fuquay-Varina will hold public meetings to receive comments on their request for an interbasin transfer (IBT) certificate from the source river basin of the Cape Fear River basin to the receiving river basin of the Neuse River basin. The Town currently serves customers in the both the Cape Fear and Neuse River basins. The Town is requesting an IBT certificate for an average day over a maximum month transfer of approximately 4 million gallons per day (mgd) from the Cape Fear River basin to the Neuse River basin. The requested transfer amount is based on 2055 water demand projections in the Town’s service area.   

These meetings are being held to provide stakeholders and the public an opportunity to participate in this project through an open and active public process in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143‑215.22L. These meetings are being conducted as part of the scoping phase of the project where the Town of Fuquay-Varina, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and other agencies are considering the purpose and need, alternatives and the scope of impacts to be evaluated in an environmental impact statement. General Statute 143‑215.22L requires that public meetings be held in the source river basin (Cape Fear River basin) both upstream and downstream from the proposed point of withdrawal and one public meeting be held in the receiving river basin (Neuse River basin). In an effort to practice social distancing guidelines related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, these meetings will be conducted outside. Social distancing and adherence to the Governor’s Executive Order 147 is required. Local authorities will be present to ensure compliance.

The format of the meetings will include an approximately 30-minute overview presentation of the IBT request followed by public questions and comment. The presentation will be the same at each of the three meetings. Based on the number of people who desire to comment, the length of the verbal presentations may be limited. All statements made at the meeting will be audio recorded. Summaries of all verbal comments from the public meetings will be prepared.  Verbal comments will be given equal consideration as written comments. Along with representatives from the Town of Fuquay-Varina, the North Carolina Division of Water Resources staff will be present to provide background IBT program information. All presentations given will be posted online immediately following the public meetings.  Parking maps will be provided from a link to the Town’s main homepage at https://www.fuquay-varina.org/.

Mailed and emailed comments will be given equal consideration. Mailed comments should be addressed to Hazen and Sawyer, Attn:  Ms. Mary Sadler, PE, 4011 WestChase Blvd, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Comments may be submitted electronically to msadler@hazenandsawyer.com. The public comment period for this phase of the project closes on November 20, 2020. Individuals who prefer to enter written comments via mail or email need to submit these comments no later than November 20, 2020.  Interested parties will have future opportunities to provide input during the overall IBT certificate request process.