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Wilmington council opposes proposed interbasin transfer, asks EMC for local hearing and more time to review DEIS
Summary
Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Fuquay‑Varina (View Arena) interbasin transfer request and draft environmental impact statement, citing potential adverse impacts to the Cape Fear River Basin, delays in document production, and requesting an additional public hearing in New Hanover County and an extended comment period.
Council member Ryenbart presented and moved a resolution opposing a proposed interbasin transfer (IBT) that would move millions of gallons per day from the Cape Fear River Basin to another basin (the presentation cited an average or preferred alternative of roughly 4–6 million gallons per day and a preferred figure of about 6.17 MGD in staff‑cited documents).
Ryenbart said the draft environmental impact statement and supporting records were provided after lengthy delays and that the Environmental Management Commission scheduled public hearings in locations far from Wilmington, which limits impacted communities’ ability to comment. The resolution states the council opposes any IBT certificate that would remove water from the Cape Fear basin without accounting for return flows, requests the EMC grant the Cape Fear basin utilities additional time to review thousands of pages of materials, and asks the EMC to hold an additional hearing in New Hanover County during late December or January.
Council adopted the resolution unanimously. Council members emphasized the resolution’s purpose was to insist on adequate public notice and to protect downstream water availability and economic uses that rely on the Cape Fear River.
