{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-324.1","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-324.1","heading":"Western North Carolina Public Lands Council creation; powers; duties.","body":"The Western North Carolina Public Lands Council is created within the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Carolina National Park, Parkway and Forests Development [Western North Carolina Public Lands Council] Council shall:\n(1)\tEndeavor to promote the development of that part of the Smoky Mountains National Park lying in North Carolina, the completion and development of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, the development of the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, and the development of other recreational areas in that part of North Carolina immediately affected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Pisgah or Nantahala national forests.\n(2)\tStudy the development of these areas and to recommend a policy that will promote the development of the entire area generally designated as the mountain section of North Carolina, with particular emphasis upon the development of the scenic and recreational resources of the region, and the encouragement of the location of tourist facilities along lines designed to develop to the fullest these resources in the mountain section.\n(3)\tConfer with the various departments, agencies, commissioners and officials of the federal government and governments of adjoining states in connection with the development of the federal areas and projects named in this section.\n(4)\tAdvise and confer with the various officials, agencies or departments of the State of North Carolina that may be directly or indirectly concerned in the development of the resources of these areas.\n(5)\tAdvise and confer with the various interested individuals, organizations or agencies that are interested in developing this area.\n(6)\tUse its facilities and efforts in formulating, developing and carrying out overall programs for the development of the area as a whole.\n(7)\tStudy the need for additional entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, together with the need for additional highway approaches and connections.\n(8)\tFile its findings in this connection as recommendations with the National Park Service of the federal government, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.\n(9)\tAdvise the Secretary of Environmental Quality upon any matter the Secretary of Environmental Quality may refer to it. (1973, c. 1262, s. 66; 1977, c. 198, ss. 5, 26; 1989, c. 751, s. 9(c); 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 959, s. 85; 1997-443, ss. 11A.123, 15.36(b), (c); 2010-180, s. 7(b); 2015-241, ss. 14.30(u), (v).)","path":["Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973.","Article 7. Department of Environmental Quality.","Part 17A. Western North Carolina Public Lands Council."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-324.1.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:43Z","sha256":"b3e7c9818e0a495cd1056d41dfaa1ff9e4bace9781812f42f42e01b6713e8890","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-322-through-143b-324","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-324.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}