State lawmakers in North Carolina are sounding the alarm over regulations that they believe could slow down recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
State Rep. Jake Johnson highlighted concerns that rules enforced by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) could “sandbag” rebuilding in areas hardest hit by the storm, particularly in the state’s northwest.
Johnson pointed out that, while debris removal regulations have been addressed, restrictions on how close contractors can work near rivers could hamper cleanup efforts in regions heavily impacted by the hurricane.
Johnson urged for temporary suspensions of some regulations, suggesting the DEQ should avoid enforcing stringent rules on contractors who are trying to help rebuild. With recovery teams already facing an uphill battle, Johnson expressed frustration that the state’s environmental regulations could add unnecessary complications.
The GOP-led General Assembly is already pushing to roll back several environmental rules to expedite the recovery, but Johnson also acknowledged the political landscape. The DEQ, overseen by appointees of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, ultimately holds the power to enforce or relax regulations.
While Johnson criticized Cooper’s appointees, he noted that the governor would likely sign off on regulatory rollbacks if they were presented in a bipartisan manner, as seen with a previous unanimous vote on burning regulations.
Rep. Ray Pickett echoed concerns about DEQ’s slow response to infrastructure damage, emphasizing that agencies need to speed up the process of permitting and approvals, especially for wastewater treatment plants.
The DEQ, however, denied claims of delays, asserting that staff were on the ground immediately after the storm and are working with federal and state partners to assess damages and support recovery efforts.
Governor Cooper has issued an executive order allowing DEQ to waive certain regulations to fast-track repairs to critical water and wastewater infrastructure. Despite these efforts, lawmakers like Johnson remain wary of the DEQ’s involvement, stressing the need for quicker and more flexible responses in the face of disaster recovery.
