07 NCAC 13H .0404         NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM FEES; INVENTORY DATA, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, AND DATA

(a)  Individuals may obtain access to Natural Heritage Program (NHP) data by purchasing a subscription at https://ncnhde.natureserve.org/ as set forth in Paragraph (b) of this Rule.

(b)  Data subscriptions shall be available in accordance with the following fee schedules:

(1)           Annual subscription for online project review: six hundred dollars ($600.00) per individual user. Annual subscription shall include 12 months of access to reports and maps of rare species, natural areas, and nature preserves related to a user specified geographic location. Reviews conducted by NHP shall not be included with an annual subscription. Access shall last for 12 months from the purchase date of the subscription.

(2)           Online project review with no annual subscription: one hundred dollars ($100.00) per project review request. Online project review with no annual subscription shall include a generated map of a rare species, natural community, natural area, and nature preserves for user specified geographic location.

(3)           Customized environmental review services: sixty-five dollars ($65.00) per hour. Customized environmental review services shall include a report and a map, prepared by NHP of rare species, natural communities, natural areas, and nature preserves related to a user specified geographic location.

(4)           Electronic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files of natural heritage element occurrence records: one hundred dollars ($100.00) per county, species, or eight digit hydrologic unit code (HUC) established by the U.S. Geological Survey. NHP shall provide updated GIS files upon request for the same county, species, or eight digit HUC for a 12-month period from delivery of the initial GIS files.

(5)           Biological field surveys: sixty-five dollars ($65.00) per hour. Biological field surveys shall include an observation summary and habitat assessment of maps, rare species, natural communities, natural areas, and nature preserves for the user specified project area.

(c)  Federal, State, local government, and nonprofit agencies using natural heritage data to establish or manage nature preserves in accordance with this Section shall be exempt from fees set forth in Paragraph (b) of this Rule.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B-135.256; 143B-135.272;

Eff. October 1, 2018.