SUMMARY: The North Carolina Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could undermine environmental, civil rights, and public health protections linked to the state’s industrial livestock farms. The case challenges three requirements in CAFOs’ general permits—groundwater monitoring, annual reporting, and phosphorus soil testing—originating from a 2014 civil rights settlement addressing the disproportionate impact on people of color and low-income communities. The Farm Bureau argues these provisions should undergo formal rulemaking instead of being imposed through permits. The outcome could affect regulatory processes statewide, potentially increasing uncertainty and requiring legislative action to clarify agency authority.

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