The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a hearing on Oct. 20 as part of a public comment period on a draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for a new water treatment plant in Emerald Isle. The permit regulates pollutants discharged in the facility’s treated wastewater.
The Bogue Banks Water Corporation RO WTP II facility will be located at 7412 Emerald Drive in Emerald Isle, Carteret County. The plant proposes to discharge into Bogue Sound, including the intracoastal waterway, in the White Oak River Basin. The discharge may affect future waste load allocations in Bogue Sound.
In addition to accepting public comment during the hearing, DWR will accept written comments until 5 p.m. Nov. 4, 2026. All comments will be considered in the final determination regarding permit issuance and permit provisions.
Public Hearing Details
When: 6 p.m.
Where: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West Morehead City, NC 28557
Register: Speaker registration opens at 5:30 p.m., onsite via sign-up sheet.
Public comments on the draft permit may be mailed to: NPDES Wastewater Permitting, Attn: Bogue Banks Water Corp RO WTP II Permit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1617, and must be postmarked no later than Nov. 4, 2026.
Public comments can also be submitted by email to: publiccomments@deq.nc.gov. Please include “Bogue Banks RO WTP II” in the email subject line.
The draft permit and a technical factsheet can be found online.