The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have scheduled three public hearings in December to gather feedback on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Town of Fuquay-Varina’s request for an Interbasin Transfer Certificate.
The hearings will take place on December 4 at Fayetteville Technology Community College, December 9 at the Archdale Building in Raleigh, and December 11 at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. Registration for speakers begins at 5:30 p.m., with each hearing starting at 6 p.m. Public parking is available after 5 p.m. near the Raleigh venue, and further details can be found on an interactive state parking map.
Fuquay-Varina, currently located in the Neuse River Basin, is seeking approval to transfer water from the Cape Fear River Basin due to projections that its current supply—sourced through wholesale agreements with nearby municipalities—will not meet future demands by 2030. The town’s preferred solution involves drawing water from the Tri-Rivers Water Treatment Plant in Sanford and transferring up to 6.17 million gallons per day by 2055.
The draft EIS evaluates potential environmental impacts on both river basins if this certificate is granted. These documents are accessible online through DEQ’s website as well as via the North Carolina Department of Administration Environmental Review Clearinghouse.
Those interested can also access the hydrologic model used in preparing alternatives for the EIS upon request through DEQ’s website related to Fuquay-Varina’s application. Training sessions on how to use this virtual model will be held virtually on December 2 and December 16; registration is required by emailing maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov.
Public input is encouraged both during these hearings and through written comments submitted by mail or email until February 1, 2026. Materials related to Fuquay-Varina’s application and the draft EIS are available online.
For those requiring language assistance or interpretive services at any of these events, contact information has been provided with a request to reach out by November 14.
