North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions § 143-214.3. Revision to water quality standard

(a) Any person subject to the provisions of G.S. 143-215.1 may petition the Commission for a hearing pursuant to G.S. 143-215.4 for a revision to water quality standards adopted pursuant to G.S. 143-214.1 as such water quality standards may apply to a specific stream segment into which the petitioner discharges or proposes to discharge.

(b) Upon a finding by the Commission that:

Then the Commission shall revise the standard or standards, as such standard may apply to the petitioner, provided that such revised standards shall be no less stringent than that which can be achieved by the application of the highest level of treatment which will result in benefits, including the incremental benefits to the receiving waters, having a reasonable relationship to the cost to the petitioner to apply such treatment, as determined by the evidence;  provided, however, in no event shall these standards be less stringent than the level attainable with the application by the petitioner of those effluent standards and limitations determined or promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to section 301 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act;  provided, further, that no revision shall be granted which would endanger human health or safety.