143-228.12. Informal review; scope; annual report.

(a) Informal Review. - No later than December 1, 2014, each Regulatory Authority shall create a process for each regulatory program administered by the Regulatory Authority for an informal internal review at the request of the Submitting Party in each of the following circumstances:

(1) The inclusion in a Regulatory Submittal of a design or practice sealed by a Professional Engineer but not included in the Regulatory Authority's existing guidance, manuals, or standard operating procedures. This review should first be conducted by the reviewing employee's supervisor or, in the case of a Regulatory Authority that is a unit of local government, either the reviewing employee's supervisor or the delegating or approving State agency. If this initial review was not conducted by a Professional Engineer, then the Submitting Party may request review by (i) a Professional Engineer on the staff of the Regulatory Authority or (ii) the delegating or approving State agency in the case of a Regulatory Authority that is a unit of local government. If the Regulatory Authority or delegating or approving State agency does not employ a Professional Engineer qualified and competent to perform the review, it may provide for review by a consulting Professional Engineer selected from a list developed and maintained by the Regulatory Authority. The Regulatory Authority may charge the Submitting Party for the costs of the review by the consulting Professional Engineer. Nothing in this subdivision is intended to limit the authority of the Regulatory Authority to make a final decision with regard to a Regulatory Submittal following the reviews described in this subdivision.

(2) A disagreement between the reviewer of the Regulatory Submittal and the Submitting Party regarding whether the statutory or regulatory authority identified by the Regulatory Authority for revisions or requests for additional information designated as "required" under the procedures set forth in G.S. 143-228.11 justifies a required change.

(b) Scope. - Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall limit or abrogate any rights available under Chapter 150B of the General Statutes to any Submitting Party.

(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-10, s. 4.10, effective May 4, 2017.