Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers will be updated to reflect changing interests, concerns, and conditions as the project moves forward between now and 2011, so please visit often.

The Partnership and Facilities
Site Selection
Facility Operations
Environmental Protection and Regulatory Process
Utility Service
Meetings and Public Input
Construction
Pipeline
Geotechnical Investigations

Meetings and Public Input

1. How can I find out when these facilities will be discussed at public meetings?

North Carolina law (G.S.143-318.12) provides a "sunshine list" mechanism by which citizens may request to be notified of public meetings held by a governmental organization. If you would like to receive notification of all public meetings held by the Town of Cary, please contact Cary Town Clerk Sue Rowland at sue.rowland@townofcary.org or (919) 469-4011 for more information. State law requires a $10 annual fee for this service. Once on the "sunshine list," you will be notified of all public meetings of the Town of Cary. To view specific Town of Cary meeting agendas, visit www.townofcary.org or contact the Town Clerk. The other Project Partners will have similar processes, so please check with them on how to be notified of their public meetings.

Public hearings regarding the Federal Environmental Policy Actand permitting processes will be listed on www.westernwakepartners.org under “Schedule” and will be noticed in the North Carolina Registerand/or the Federal Register as required by law.

Meetings of the Policy Advisory Committee will be noticed by each Project Partner and will be listed on www.westernwakepartners.org under “Schedule.”

2. Why weren't area residents notified that a water reclamation facility was planned in the area? Why was there no public input? At what points in the process will citizens have the opportunity to share their concerns?

Building a water reclamation facility requires permit approval from the State of North Carolina and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Corps has an established process to objectively analyze all direct and indirect environmental impact concerns including potential impacts to area residents and to solicit public input. The Corps role is to consider all comments in an unbiased manner to ensure citizens’ comments are treated consistently.

NC DENR held a public hearing on the Preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement June 15, 2006, and written comments were also accepted. The Environmental Impact Statement will address those comments as directed by the Corps. In accordance with the Corps requirements, citizens will be invited by the Corps through a public notice process to comment on the Environmental Impact Statement. All comments are welcome and can touch on topics such as site selection, pump station locations, discharge location, and piping routes. Public comment is documented and overseen by the Corps during this process.

Further, a public hearing will be held on the EIS during which written and/or spoken comments can be presented, and written comments may be submitted. (See the Schedule for more details.)

The Corps process will determine, among other things, if a facility can be built on the site, and it will establish required mitigation related to the site. Ownership of the property by the Project Partners is not a factor considered in issuing a permit. The permitting process could require a switch to another site. If the facility location changes, time for additional comments on the new site will be provided.

Although the Corps permitting process is the official time to comment on the project, the Project Partners welcome comments and concerns at any point in the process. That’s why we established this Web site in September 2004 and included contact information to facilitate such sharing.

Citizens also had the opportunity to learn about the project, discuss their questions with the Project Partners’ staff and the consultant team, and submit written comments at a June 14, 2005 public information meeting.

Regarding land acquisition, local governments in North Carolina—just like any other potential property purchasers--generally are not required to notify or get input from nearby property owners of an intent to purchase land since doing so could result in land speculation and the possibility of inflated costs.

3. When and where will the public be able to comment on the EIS? Where can I review a copy of the EIS?

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be available for review in the Reports section of this site as well as at the Apex Town Hall, 73 Hunter Street; Cary Town Hall, 316 North Academy Street; Holly Springs Town Hall, 128 South Main Street; and Morrisville Town Hall, 100 Town Hall Drive.

Questions about the EIS process or the documents should be directed to:
Daniel M. Blaisdell, P.E.
Assistant Chief, Engineering Branch, CG&L, NCDENR
(919) 715-6211
Daniel.Blaisdell@ncmail.net

4. When and where will the public be able to comment on the SCI Master
Mitigation Plans? Where can I review a copy of the Plans?

The Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Mitigation Plans were finalized on Oct. 14, 2005 based on comments obtained both in writing and at a public meeting.

The plans will be referenced in the EIS for the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities, and comments can be made on secondary and cumulative impacts during the public comments periods for that document (see Schedule). The Corps will consider all comments and has the ability to require additional mitigation measures for secondary and cumulative impacts if they determine that the mitigation measures impacts documented in the plans are not adequate for a particular project.

The final plans for each of the four Project Partners will be published on their respective web sites and paper copies are available for review during normal business hours at:

- Cary Town Hall
- Apex Town Hall (for Apex SCI Master Mitigation Plan)
- Holly Springs Town Hall (for Holly Springs SCI Master Mitigation
Plan)
- Morrisville Town Hall (for Morrisville SCI Master Mitigation Plan)