Certified Sites FAQ

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Certified Sites FAQ

Click on any of these common questions below to see the answers to about NC Certified Sites Program.

Q1. Does 1 soil boring per 20 acres seems too much - especially for parks and for western NC? My understanding of the soil borings is that they are used to convey confidence and mitigate risk to a prospective client, in addition to being used as a predictive measure for grading and building prep expenses. One size fits all ratio on geotech work does not make sense considering the diversity of NC's terrain and geography. Can the requirements be changed to allow an engineering consultant and members of technical review team to determine a reasonable number of borings for the site or park, with perhaps a minimum of 1 per 50 acres for parks, and some other ratio for sites? If the engineering consulting firm's recommendation is 1 boring per 20 acres, why not just rely on the environmental consultant for each project to make a recommendation based on the site or park? Maybe include a minimum number of borings for total acreage?

Q2. Can you give me a ballpark estimate for getting a greenfield business park site certified?

Q3. When did the revised guidelines become effective? When was the new Building & Sites Database launched for uploading documentation for the Certifies Sites program?

Q4. Is there a complete checklist available of the requirements under the certification guidelines?

Q5. Can you provide a list of the steering committee members?

Q6. Does the Department of Commerce have any plans to provide signage designating NC Certified Sites?

Q7. Do I have to certify an entire park?

Q8. Where do we get the Intent to Certify form?

Q9. We have a Certified Site that was certified prior to July 2009. Is this site grandfathered in? Will we have to re-certify? If so, how long do we have to comply?

Q10. Documents online are publicly available. Does Commerce have a plan to address when an engineering company enters into an agreement where these documents are not to be publicly available?

Q11. Once a site has earned certification, when does the two year period begin before recertification?

Q12. Is a field Boundary Survey required for final certification?

Q13. With such a high water flow requirement, does the Department of Commerce intend to exclude sites that are suitable for high impact projects, such as headquarters, with these requirements?

Q14. What is the standard (ASTM?) depth and width of the soil borings needed? This will help determine cost for the community.

Q15. The 90% buildable acres on a 10 acre requirement could be in conflict with LEED Certification. Would Commerce waive the buildable requirement for LEED Certification?

Q16. Can Commerce provide a point of contact or a letter of documentation for the steps required to obtain an exemption letter from CAMA?

Q17. When completing the Intent to Certify, is a site boundary map suitable, or does it need to be a boundary survey?

Q18. If I certify an entire park, do I have to then certify each site within the park as well, or are all sites within the park certified by association?

Q19. Is a new wetlands assessment required every four years even if the site has not been disturbed?

Q20. Does a park must have at least half of the total acres meet the minimum acres/buildable acres requirement?

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