Press Releases

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will implement adaptive management with a harvest moratorium in the Albemarle Sound Management Area. Despite recent management actions taken by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), the Albemarle/Roanoke striped bass stock continues to be overfished and to experience overfishing.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will host an interagency work group meeting on Aug. 30 by web conference to discuss government authorities for managing threatened oceanfront structures. The public may listen by computer or phone.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office will hold a public hearing on September 12 on the proposed adoption of three regional service providers for the Weatherization Assistance Program’s five-year plan under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Public comments will also be accepted through September 20, 2023. 

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Carteret County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The North Carolina Mining Commission’s Committee on Rules Readoption will meet virtually on August 29, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m., to continue discussion regarding readoption of Mining Program rules last adopted in 2010. The public is invited to attend by computer or phone. During its meeting, the Committee will consider administrative and technical changes or updates to the existing rules that were deemed necessary by the Commission, which are available on the Mining Commission website. Information on subsequent meetings, if necessary, will be announced at a later point.

The Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 5 to the N.C. Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 3 to the N.C. Hard Clam FMP. The division will hold a public scoping period Sept. 11-22 to solicit input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendments and discuss stakeholder priorities. Scoping is the best opportunity for the public to inform the plan.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is soliciting new project proposals from state agencies for electric vehicle chargers to be funded with Volkswagen Settlement dollars not claimed through public rebate programs.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) has issued a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit NC0026123 to the City of Asheboro, located in Randolph County.

During its Fall 2023 funding round, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is offering Emerging Contaminants funding, available to local government units, non-profit water corporations and investor-owned drinking water companies for planning or construction projects addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in water or wastewater systems. An informational webinar about this Emerging Contaminants/PFAS funding is available on Aug. 31. 2:00-3:30 p.m., online or by phone.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today announced the 2023 commercial estuarine flounder season opening dates by Southern Flounder Management Area and Gear Category.