Authorizing Legislation 



North Carolina General Statutes 

 ARTICLE 12D. 



Environmental Review Commission. 



§120-70.41. Commission established. 



The Environmental Review Commission is hereby established. 



§ 120-70.42. Membership; cochairs; vacancies; quorum. 



The Environmental Review Commission shall consist of six Senators appointed by the 

 President Pro Tempore of the Senate, six Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of 

 Representatives, who shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing officer, the Chair of the Senate 

 Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and the Chair of the House of Representatives 

 Committee on the Environment. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one 

 Senator to serve as cochair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one 

 Representative to serve as cochair. Any vacancy which occurs on the Environmental Review 

 Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A quorum of the 

 Environmental Review Commission shall consist of eight members. 



§ 120-70.43. Powers and duties. 



(a) The Environmental Review Commission shall have the following powers and duties: 



(1) To evaluate actions of all boards, commissions, departments, and other agencies of the 



State and local governments as such actions relate to the environment or protection of 

 the environment, including but not limited to an evaluation of: 



a. Benefits of each program relative to costs; 



b. Achievement of program goals; 



c. Use of measures by which the success or failure of a program can be measured; and 



d. Conformity with legislative intent; 



(2) To study on a continuing basis the organization of State government as it relates to the 

 environment or to the protection of public health and the environment, including but 

 not limited to: 



a. Improvements in administrative structure, practices, and procedures; 



b. Increased integration and coordination of programs and fiinctions; 



c. Increased efficiency in budgeting and use of resources; 



d. Efficient administration of licensing, permitting, and grant programs; 



e. Prompt, effective response to environmental emergencies; 



f. Opportunities for effective citizen participation; and 



g. Broadening of career opportunities for professional staff; 



(3) To make any recommendations it deems appropriate regarding the reorganization and 

 consolidation of environmental regulatory agencies and the recodification of statutes 

 relating to the environment, including but not limited to: 



a. Ways in which agencies may operate more efficiently and economically; 



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