Nexsen Pruet is pleased to announce that Member Charlie Carter has been appointed to the Environmental Management Commission of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). His appointment was by the Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives to serve a 4‑year term on the Commission.

As explained on the DENR website, “The Commission is responsible for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of North Carolina’s air and water resources. The Commission oversees and adopts rules for several agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources”. They include the Divisions of Air Quality, Waste Management, Water Resources, and Energy, Mining and Land Resources.

The Environmental Management Commission was reformed during the recent legislative session into a 15-member regulatory agency (reduced from 19 members). Nine members are appointed by the Governor and three members each by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate. Commission members are chosen to represent various fields, including the medical profession, agriculture, engineering, fish and wildlife, hydrology, air and water pollution control, manufacturing, and the public at large.

The Commission’s responsibilities are assigned to one of its seven committees: Air Quality, Groundwater, NPDES, Water Quality, Water Allocation, Air Permit Appeals, and Steering. Charlie has been named Chair of the Air Quality and Air Permit Appeals Committees.

The Environmental Management Commission generally meets on the second Thursday of January, March, May, July, September and November to consider rulemaking, policy, and other matters. All rules governing the State air and water programs must be adopted by the Commission following public notice and hearing. Commission members also preside as Hearing Officers at public hearings on proposed rules. In certain cases, the Commission sits as a quasi-judicial body to decide contested matters. The Commission is the counterpart of the South Carolina DHEC Board and the air and water boards in Tennessee and Virginia.

Charlie is an accomplished and highly respected attorney with more than thirty-five years of experience in environmental, legislative, and regulatory law. He concentrates his environmental and regulatory law practice in the areas of permitting, rulemaking, compliance, and enforcement.