Press Releases

Consistent and heavy April rainfall has resulted in a clear drought map for North Carolina on the U.S. Drought Monitor as reported through the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC). Since May 4, 2023, all of North Carolina’s 100 counties were determined to be free from drought or abnormally dry conditions.

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in cooperation with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, City of Durham, Durham County, Town of Hillsborough and Orange County will be treating the Eno River for Hydrilla May 15, 2023 through August 31, 2023.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet virtually on Wednesday and Thursday, May 10 and 11, 2023. The public is invited to attend online or in-person at the listening station in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building at 512 N. Salisbury St, Raleigh. Wednesday, May 10, 2023 Committee Meetings Remote Access Thursday, May 11, 2023 Full Commission Meeting Remote Access Meeting information may be found at the Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Management Commission webpage. The Environmental Management Commission is responsible for adopting rules for the protection, preservation and enhancement of the state’s air, land and water resources. The commission oversees and adopts rules for several divisions of the Department of Environmental Quality, including the divisions of Air Quality; Energy, Mineral and Land Resources; Waste Management and Water Resources.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management will hold a meeting at the Morehead City Train Depot, 1001 Arendell St., Morehead City, May 8 at 9 a.m. to discuss an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) Nomination. The nomination was submitted on behalf of the Beaufort Citizens Alliance to consider property in the Town of Beaufort for designation as a Natural or Cultural Resource AEC. The public is invited to observe, however, this will not be a public hearing.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a public stakeholder input session May 9, 2023, as part of the renewal process for six Animal Feeding Operations General Permits. Input from the event, as well as input received during the 60-day comment period through June 5, will be considered in the development of the draft permits which will become effective in 2024.

El Departamento de Calidad Medioambiental (DEQ, por sus siglas en ingles) de Carolina del Norte celebrará una sesión pública el 9 de mayo de 2023 para recibir comentarios y opiniones de las partes interesadas, como parte del proceso de renovación de seis permisos generales para operaciones de alimentación de animales. Los comentarios y opiniones recibidas en el evento, así como durante el período de comentarios de 60 días (hasta el 5 de junio), se tendrán en cuenta en la elaboración de los proyectos de permisos, que entrarán en vigor en el 2024.

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold spring local advisory committee meetings May 8 through 22 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.