The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a meeting of the Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the Division’s Central District Office, 5285 U.S. 70 West, Morehead City.
The committee will consider three third-party hearing requests submitted under N.C. General Statute 113-202(g), each challenging the Division Director’s April 15 approval of proposed shellfish leases. The in-person hearing is open to the public but will not include an opportunity for public comment.
Committee members will hear oral arguments from each petitioner, Division staff and lease applicant. After presentations conclude, the committee will deliberate and vote on each challenge.
Agenda Overview
Hearing 1
• Petitioner: Thomas Peralto
• Lease Applicant: C.I. Salts Oyster Company, LLC (Ralph Brittingham, agent)
• Lease Location: 4.22-acre bottom and water column lease in North Bay
• Petition Received: April 23
Hearing 2
• Petitioner: Merleon Creech
• Lease Applicant: Jacob Milchuck
• Lease Location: 6.17-acre bottom and water column lease in Adams Creek
• Petition Received: May 15
Hearing 3
• Petitioner: Corey McMahon
• Lease Applicant: Jacob Milchuck
• Lease Location: 6.17-acre bottom and water column lease in Adams Creek
• Petition Received: May 15
A public hearing for each lease was held on Mar. 13, 2025.
Meeting Details
| WHO: | Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee |
| WHAT: | Meeting to consider third-party challenges to shellfish leases |
| WHEN: | 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2015 |
| WHERE: | N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office 5285 U.S. 70 West Morehead City, N.C. |
Meeting materials will be made available online at:
https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/events/shellfish-lease-review-committee-hear-three-third-party-challenges.