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POLICY STATEMENT ON PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENT Introduction Environmental issues transcend governmental boundaries and therefore require close coordina- tion of policy and action by federal, state and local governments. The aim of public policy address- ing envirOnmemal issues should be to protect vital natural resources, assure the public health, and to enhance sound development. County governments in North Cai-olina must play a key role in the development and implemen- tation of environmental policy. Powers delegated to the counties for protection of the public health and regulation of development are important tools for carrying out measures to protect l.'md, ~tir and water resources. State and Local Responsibilities Protection of the cnvironmen~ must be a shared effort between thc state and local government. The Association believes that the following principles should guide the relationship between the state and local governments in the area of environmental protection: · State agencies charged with the responsibility for developing administrative rules to imple- ment federal and state environmental policies should involve local governments in the process at the earliest stages of development. In cases where state agencie~ issue permits for activities affecting the environment, affected local governments should be given ample opportunity to comment on all proposed permits in terms of consistency with local plans and policies. tn cases where state law delegates responsibility for implementation, monitoring and enfor- cement of environmental policy'to local governments, the state should provide, through law and regulation; for optimum flexibility at the local level in carrying out these respon- sibilities. State law and administrative rules should allow local goveruments maximum discretion in setting fees for such services as inspections, issuance of permits, monitoring :tctivities and enforcement. When state law mandates that all local governments assume new or expanded respon- sibilities for protecfion of the envit:onment that previously were considered to be discretion- ary activities at the local level, the General Assembly should provide funding for start-up expenditures resulting from the mandate. When state law mandates that state agencies dertake environmental monitoring activities, the General Assembly should fully fund the staff necessary to undertake these monitoring responsibilities. Balancing Development and Environmental Protection All human activities have an impact on the environment. County governments believe Ihat public policy on environmental protecdon~must recognize this fact and provide a rational balance between these interests. To that end, the A~sociation of County Commissioners believes that it is imperative that all iriitiatives to protect the quality of our natural environment be carefully evaluated in terms of relative costs and benefits and actual risks posed to human health in absence of more stringent regula- tion of activities addressed by the policies. NOTE: This Policy Statement will be voted on by delegates at the Bt~.~iness Session dttring An- nttal Conference on Augttst 9-12, 1990, in Asheville.