Press Releases

The blue crab season closures will go into effect Jan. 1-31, 2021 in North Carolina state waters north and east of the Highway 58 bridge and March 1-15, 2021 south and west of the Highway 58 bridge. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved measures to end overfishing and achieve sustainable harvest with the adoption of the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 at its February 2020 meeting.

RALEIGH – State and federal officials together with Multistate Trust representatives will hold two online public meetings regarding the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp – Navassa Superfund site on Tuesday, December 15. Topics will include remediation progress and plans at each of the site’s operable units (OUs) as well as information on the amended Proposed Plan for OU1.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is requesting input on locations for 2021 oyster cultch planting.

The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) invites communities and contractors to apply to participate in Phases 1 and 2 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), which aims to equip communities with additional capability to understand and enhance coastal resilience at the local level. DCM is requesting applications from interested municipal and county governments in the 20 coastal CAMA counties, as well as professional services from qualified organizations to provide technical assistance to selected localities.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will re

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 9:00 a.m., remotely, via teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting by phone.

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and Town of Davidson, will co-host an online public information meeting on December 15 to discuss the results and next steps following recent expanded soil sampling for asbestos within one-quarter mile of the former Carolina Asbestos Corporation site in Davidson.

Recreational anglers will be required to use circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with natural bait in coastal ocean waters beginning Jan. 1, 2021. 

The Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force Wednesday released its first biannual report outlining policy recommendations to address disparities in communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.  The Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee provided recommendations to increase the consideration of environmental justice and equity concerns in state decision-making and address environmental and economic impacts in disadvantaged communities.

The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet on Monday, December 7, via WebEx, to discuss challenges and regulations on PFAS mixtures and to continue its discussion on hexavalent chromium.