A new North Carolina regulation on development permits restricts all sea-level predictions used to influence state policies in the upcoming four years to those based on "historical data. Officials claim that the projection map would put permits of numerous development projects in the coastal areas in jeopardy. New flood zone areas should be designed, new waste treatment plants should be built and roads should be raised and insurance premiums would dramatically rise for home owners.
However, Gov. Bev Perdue asked lawmakers to come up with a coherent approach to sea-level rise:
"North Carolina should not ignore science when making public policy decisions. House Bill 819 will become law because it allows local governments to use their own scientific studies to define rates of sea level change," Perdue stated.