S/H 



ATTENTION: 



GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA 

 SESSION 1999 



ERCOO-SGZ-018.02 (5.9) 

 15-MAY-OO EZT / 15:08:24 



H 



This is a draft and is not ready for introduction. 



Short Title: Million Acre Open Space Goal 



(Public) 



Sponsors : 



Referred to; 



1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 



2 AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT, AND ACCELERATE THE PERMANENT 



3 PROTECTION OF FARMLAND, FORESTLAND, PARKLAND, GAMELAND, 



4 WETLANDS, OPEN SPACE, AND CONSERVATION LANDS IN NORTH CAROLINA, 



5 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION. 



6 Whereas, the citizens of North Carolina have conunitted 



7 themselves to conserve and protect their lands and waters in 



8 numerous ways. This commitment is stated in Article XIV, Section 



9 5 of the North Carolina Constitution and finds expression in the 



10 many State, local, and private programs that provide for the 



11 acquisition and protection of lands to protect the water quality, 



12 wetlands, drinking water sources, natural beauty, and ecological 



13 diversity of North Carolina as well as provide opportunities for 



14 public recreation; and 



15 Whereas, despite these many disparate programs, the 



16 General Assembly finds that the quality of life that North 



17 Carolinians have come to expect is threatened by the continued 



18 alteration and development of the State's natural areas, the loss 



19 of its farmlands and forests, the shrinking amount of open space 



