Press Releases

The ozone season begins Friday as state and local environmental agencies renew their daily air quality forecasts for ozone in metropolitan areas across North Carolina. Air quality across the state has improved significantly over the past decade due to declining emissions from industry and motor vehicles and more stringent standards. Over the past three years, ozone levels have been the lowest since the state began monitoring the air in the early 1970s. All of North Carolina currently meets the new, more stringent federal ozone standard that was adopted in October 2015.

State officials have signed an agreement that will allow a company to safely transform a former industrial landfill into a large sports complex with greenways and ballfields in Asheville.     Officials with the state environmental agency signed a brownfields agreement with Enka Partners LLC, Thursday for the 41-acre site on Sand Hill Road in Asheville.  

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classifications for Marshall Steam StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March 29 (registration for speakers starts at 5:30 p.m.)WHERE: Catawba Valley Community College Auditorium, 2550 US-70, Hickory, NC 28602RALEIGH – The public is invited to a meeting March 29 in Hickory to provide feedback on the state’s proposed risk classifications for the coal ash ponds at Duke Energy’s Marshall Steam Station.

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classifications for Belews Creek Steam StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March 24 (registration for speakers starts at 5:30 p.m.)WHERE: Stokes County Courthouse, 1012 Main St., Danbury, N.C., 27016   The public is invited to a meeting March 24 in Danbury to give feedback on the state’s proposed risk classifications for the coal ash pond at Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station.

March Madness isn’t just about basketball; it also can describe the pollen season.Pollen levels in North Carolina generally reach their highest levels in early to mid-spring when many native trees are flowering, so many pollen sufferers are approaching their most maddening season.People who are bothered by allergies may want to limit their time outdoors until pollen levels subside, particularly during early morning hours and when it is windy outside. Keeping doors and windows shut with air conditioners running will help reduce pollen levels indoors.

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classifications for G.G. Allen Steam StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March 22 (registration for speakers starts at 5 p.m.)WHERE: Gaston College’s Dallas Campus in the Myers Center Multipurpose Auditorium, 201 Hwy. 321 South, Dallas, N.C. 28034 The public is invited to a meeting March 22 in Dallas to provide feedback on the state’s proposed risk classifications for the coal ash ponds at Duke Energy’s G.G. Allen Steam Station.

State officials are inviting people to a public hearing March 23 to provide feedback on the draft permit Duke Energy is seeking to construct and operate an industrial landfill to handle coal ash and other wastes at the utility’s Dan River Steam Station in Rockingham County.The 6 p.m. hearing will be held in the Eden Room of the Eden Town Hall, 318 East Stadium Drive, Eden. Registration for speakers and people in attendance will start at 5 p.m.

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classifications for Buck Steam StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March 22 (registration for speakers starts at 5:30 p.m.)WHERE: Catawba College in the Center for the Environment Building, Room 300, 2300 West Innes St, Salisbury, NC 28144People are invited to a public meeting March 22 in Salisbury to give feedback on the state’s proposed risk classifications for the coal ash ponds at Duke Energy’s Buck Steam Station.

State environmental officials are seeking comments on the Jordan Lake water supply allocation recommendations, which are based on the Cape Fear River water supply evaluation.Approval of the recommendations will allocate around 96 percent of the water supply pool for use by Triangle communities to meet water supply needs through 2045.

As part of Governor McCrory’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment, a site in Durham that was once contaminated by dry cleaning solvents has been cleaned up and can now be evaluated for safe redevelopment.   State environmental officials informed nearby residents and others of the good news about the former One-Hour Martinizing dry cleaning business at 1103 West Club Boulevard in Durham.