Press Releases

State recreational water quality officials today advised beachgoers to be aware of the floodwaters being pumped to the ocean surf in Oak Island. Surfers and swimmers should avoid these sites. Recent heavy rains from Tropical Storm Elsa have caused flooding of streets, yards, and housing in parts of Oak Island and nearby communities. To minimize the flooding damage and to ensure roads are accessible for emergency vehicles, the town has pumped floodwater into the ocean near Crowell Street.

Three advisory committees to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet by web conference later this month to discuss possible future small mesh gill net management measures.

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 Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet Wednesday and Thursday, July 7 and 8, in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building at 512 N. Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC. The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or online.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality invites public comment on the state’s plan to invest $67 million in Volkswagen Settlement funds. The Draft Phase 2 Mitigation plan focuses on efforts to reduce pollution impacts while incentivizing zero emission vehicles and increasing outreach to under-resourced communities.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a digital public hearing on Thursday, August 5 on a draft permit modification for the Duke Energy Allen Steam Station.

The City of Greensboro has reported a discharge of 1,4 dioxane into South Buffalo Creek in the effluent from the TZ Osborne Wastewater Treatment Plant that may impact downstream water intakes within the next few days. Greensboro reported sampling results to the North Carolina Division of Water Resources this afternoon.

Elizabeth S. Biser affirmed her oath of office as North Carolina’s Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality during a ceremony at DEQ’s Green Square building today. 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program for federal fiscal year 2022. The FY 2022 Request for Proposals is published on the division’s BIG webpage.