Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is announcing the availability of approximately $2 million in funding to help local governments in 20 coastal counties improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold an in-person workshop January 27 with the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee to review draft Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has rescheduled three Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS) training sessions that were cancelled due to inclement weather.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will close coastal and joint waters in North Carolina to both commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 due to widespread cold stun events.

Due to the forecasted inclement weather, the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has cancelled the three Observer Trip Scheduling System training sessions that were slated for this week. The meetings will be rescheduled and the dates and times announced later.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has classified 11 counties in eastern North Carolina as experiencing severe drought conditions, also known as D2, in the latest drought advisory issued Thursday.

Today, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality launched Energy Saver North Carolina, which includes more than $208 million dollars for federally funded rebates. The rebates are designed to make it more affordable for households to install cost-saving measures such as heat pumps, electrical panels and insulation. Energy Saver NC also serves as an opportunity to create new businesses, support more than 2,300 jobs and boost local economies.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries wants to remind the public to report any cold stunned spotted seatrout they may see in North Carolina coastal waters.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is accepting public comment and will hold a public hearing on a draft air quality permit modification for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) cogeneration facility.The public hearing will be on Jan. 16. Public comments will be accepted until Jan. 23.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program has finalized its five-year timeline for ocean reef enhancements funded by Coastal Recreational Fishing License revenues.