TITLE
Vote on a request by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to consider amendments to Section 10.13, Table of Permitted Uses; 11.2 Specific requirements; 11.3, Environmental Impact Assessment; and 17.9, Additional Information for Certain Conditional Use Permits (new section) to incorporate standards for high impact land use activities, including oil and gas exploration.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Vote on a request by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to consider amendments to Section 10.13, Table of Permitted Uses; 11.2 Specific requirements; 11.3, Environmental Impact Assessment; and 17.9, Additional Information for Certain Conditional Use Permits (new section) to incorporate standards for high impact land use activities, including oil and gas exploration.
Introduction & Background:
In August 2015, the Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance instituting a temporary moratorium on oil and gas development activities within Chatham County. Section 7 of the moratorium includes two tasks to be completed during the moratorium. The moratorium was extended twice to July 2018 and January 31, 2019 to provide additional time to complete an oil and gas exploration study and draft amendments to the county's land use regulations (moratorium documents can be viewed on the following website - http://www.chathamnc.org/government/departments-programs/planning/natural-gas-oil-information ).
Discussion & Analysis:
The Commissioners adopted the moratorium in response to legislative changes to the rules governing oil and gas exploration and development at the state level. It has also provided time to evaluate potential impacts of these activities on the county and develop supplemental standards to the state rules. The NC Department of Environmental Quality Oil and Gas Program webpage contains background information about the potential for oil and gas exploration in the state, as well background information leading to the development of the state regulatory pr...
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