143-215.16. Permits for water use within capacity use areas - duration, transfer, reporting, measurement, present use, fees and penalties.

(a) No permit under G.S. 143-215.15 shall be issued for a longer period than the longest of the following: (i) 10 years, or (ii) the duration of the existence of a capacity use area, or (iii) the period found by the Commission to be necessary for reasonable amortization of the applicant's water-withdrawal and water-using facilities. Permits may be renewed following their expiration upon compliance with the provisions of G.S. 143-215.15.

(b) Permits shall not be transferred except with the approval of the Commission.

(c) Every person in a capacity use area who is required by this Part to secure a permit shall file with the Commission in the manner prescribed by the Commission a certified statement of quantities of water used and withdrawn, sources of water, and the nature of the use thereof not more frequently than 30-day intervals. Such statements shall be filed on forms furnished by the Department within 90 days after the adoption of an order by the Commission declaring a capacity use area. Water users in a capacity use area not required to secure a permit shall comply with procedures established to protect and manage the water resources of the area. Such procedures shall be adapted to the specific needs of the area, shall be within the provisions of this and other North Carolina water resource acts, and shall be adopted after public hearing in the area. The requirements embodied in the two preceding sentences shall not apply to individual domestic water use.

(d) If any person who is required to secure a permit under this Part is unable to furnish accurate information concerning amounts of water being withdrawn or used, or if there is evidence that his certified statement is false or inaccurate or that he is withdrawing or using a larger quantity of water or under different conditions than has been authorized by the Commission, the Commission shall have the authority to require such person to install water meters, or some other more economical means for measuring water use acceptable to the Commission. In determining the amount of water being withdrawn or used by a permit holder or applicant the Commission may use the rated capacity of his pumps, the rated capacity of his cooling system, data furnished by the applicant, or the standards or methods employed by the United States Geological Survey in determining such quantities or by any other accepted method.

(e) In any case where a permit applicant can prove to the Commission's satisfaction that the applicant was withdrawing or using water prior to the date of declaration of a capacity use area, the Commission shall take into consideration the extent to which such prior use or withdrawal was reasonably necessary in the judgment of the Commission to meet its needs, and shall grant a permit which shall meet those reasonable needs. Provided, however, that the granting of such permit shall not have unreasonably adverse effects upon other water uses in the area, including public use, and including potential as well as present use.

(f) The Commission shall also take into consideration in the granting of any permit the prior investments of any person in lands, and plans for the usage of water in connection with such lands which plans have been submitted to the Commission within a reasonable time after June 27, 1967. Provided, however, that the granting of such permit shall not have unreasonably adverse effects upon other water uses in the area, including public use, and including potential as well as present use.

(g) It is the intention of the General Assembly that if the provisions of subsection (e) or subsection (f) of this section are held invalid as a grant of an exclusive or separate emolument or privilege, within the meaning of Article I, Sec. 7 of the North Carolina Constitution, the remainder of this Part shall be given effect without the invalid provision or provisions.

(h) Pending the issuance or denial of a permit pursuant to subsection (e) or (f) of this section, the applicant may continue the same withdrawal or use which existed prior to the date of declaration of the capacity use area.