Fact Check: North Carolina overrides governor to roll back wetland protections.

Fact Check: North Carolina Overrides Governor to Roll Back Wetland Protections

What We Know

Recently, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the General Assembly's annual farm bill, which included provisions that would significantly roll back protections for wetlands in the state. The veto was primarily motivated by concerns that the bill could leave approximately half of North Carolina's wetlands unprotected, a situation exacerbated by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits federal protections for certain wetlands (AP News, News Observer).

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality estimates that around 2.5 million acres of wetlands could lose protection under the proposed law, which aligns state definitions of protected wetlands with federal definitions without extending beyond them (News Observer, NC Newsline). Governor Cooper argued that this change would worsen flooding and degrade water quality, particularly in vulnerable areas of Eastern North Carolina (AP News, News Observer).

Analysis

The claim that North Carolina's legislature is overriding the governor to roll back wetland protections is partially true. While it is accurate that the legislature has the power to override the governor's veto, the situation is more nuanced. The farm bill, which includes the controversial wetland provisions, received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, indicating that some Democrats also backed the bill (News Observer).

Critics of the bill, including environmental groups and Governor Cooper, argue that the rollback of protections is significant and poses risks to the environment and public safety. They emphasize that wetlands play a crucial role in flood mitigation and water purification (News Observer, Southern Environmental Law Center). On the other hand, supporters of the bill, including Republican Senator Brent Jackson, contend that the concerns are overstated and that the bill is necessary for compliance with federal regulations (AP News, News Observer).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high, with major news organizations like the Associated Press and the News Observer providing well-researched and factual reporting. However, the framing of the issue can vary, with environmental groups emphasizing the potential negative impacts of the legislation, while proponents focus on economic and regulatory compliance aspects.

Conclusion

The claim that North Carolina is rolling back wetland protections through legislative override is partially true. While the legislature is indeed poised to override Governor Cooper's veto, the situation involves complex interactions between state and federal regulations, bipartisan support for the bill, and significant environmental concerns raised by various stakeholders. The outcome of the veto override will have substantial implications for the state's wetlands and the communities that rely on them for flood protection and water quality.