(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina Senate could soon vote on legislation that supporters say will help control coastal beach erosion.  The Senate agriculture committee approved a bill that would allow terminal groins next to inlets.

Onslow County Sen. Harry Brown said the bill would have a huge economic impact without harming the coast.  "Protecting our beaches and our coastline is very, very important to us that live on the coast.  I would not introduce a bill that I felt like would hurt that in any way," said Brown.

Assistant Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Robin Smith said there are some concerns about allowing more terminal groins. "Hard structures present a risk not just to the environment but to the public beaches and to nearby private properties that is too big a risk to take," said Smith. Opponents to the bill say the use of terminal groins will accelerate erosion in other areas. 

Under the current proposal, no state money would be used to build the terminal groins. State officials say that funding would likely come through a combination of private and local government money.