Today, Governor Cooper vetoed House Bill 576, An Act to (1) Require the Department of Environmental Quality to Approve Aerosolization of Leachate and Wastewater from a Lined Sanitary Landfill for the Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, in Certain Circumstances; (2) Allow the Department to Approve Aerosolization of Leachate or Wastewater that Results in a Zero-Liquid Discharge and is Not a Significant Air Contamination Source Does Not Constitute a Source that Requires Certain Permits.
Gov. Cooper included the following veto message:
"In this bill, the legislature exempts particular technologies that could potentially better ensure the health and safety of people and the environment. Scientists, not the legislature, should decide whether a patented technology can safely dispose of contaminated liquids from landfills. With use of the word "shall," the legislature mandates a technology winner, limiting future advancements that may provide better protection."
Gov. Cooper also signed five bills into law:
- House Bill 98: An Act to Create the Criminal Offense of Injuring, Destroying, Removing, Vandalizing, or Tampering with Any of the Following: Firefighting Machinery, Firefighting Equipment, an Ambulance, a Rescue Squad Emergency Medical Services Vehicle, or Emergency Medical Services Equipment
- Senate Bill 155: An Act to Make Various Changes to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Laws
- Senate Bill 169: An Act to Expand Teaching Excellence Bonuses for Certain Teachers Who Would Have Received a Bonus
- Senate Bill 448: An Act to Authorize Local Boards of Education to Employ Higher Education Faculty Members to Serve as Adjunct Instructors for Core Academic Subjects
- Senate Bill 578: An Act to Require the Office of the Secretary of State to Annually Compile Information About the Number of Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and to Provide This Information to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs