The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have scheduled three public hearings in December to gather input on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Fuquay-Varina’s request for an Interbasin Transfer Certificate.
The hearings will take place at different locations: Fayetteville Technical Community College on December 4, the Archdale Building in Raleigh on December 9, and the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro on December 11. Each hearing is set to begin at 6 p.m., with registration for speakers starting at 5:30 p.m. Public parking information for the Raleigh event is available through an Interactive State Parking Map.
Fuquay-Varina, currently located in the Neuse River Basin, seeks approval to transfer water from the Cape Fear River Basin due to anticipated shortfalls in its existing water supply by 2030. The town now relies on purchasing water from nearby systems but projects that this will not meet future demand. To address this, Fuquay-Varina has identified sourcing water from the Tri-Rivers Water Treatment Plant (City of Sanford) as its preferred option. This would involve transferring up to 6.17 million gallons per day from Cape Fear to Neuse River Basin by 2055.
The draft EIS examines potential environmental impacts associated with granting this certificate and is accessible online via DEQ’s website and through the North Carolina Department of Administration Environmental Review Clearinghouse.
A hydrologic model used in evaluating alternatives within the EIS can be accessed upon request through DEQ’s website related to Fuquay-Varina’s IBT request. Training sessions for using this virtual model are scheduled for December 2 and December 16; interested participants must register by emailing maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend these hearings or submit written comments regarding the draft EIS. Written feedback can be sent by mail or email to Maya Holcomb at the Division of Water Resources, with a deadline of February 1, 2026.
Further details about Fuquay-Varina’s application and supporting documents are available online.
Interpretive services are available upon request for those needing assistance in another language if contacted by November 14. For Spanish-language information, individuals may call or email laura.oleniacz@deq.nc.gov.
