Press Releases

While eastern North Carolina is still reeling from the flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew, three counties in western North Carolina have been designated as experiencing extreme drought conditions. The extreme drought in Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties was caused by below normal rainfall and has significantly impacted agriculture in those areas. A lack of significant rainfall in recent months has resulted in below normal ground water levels and stream flows.

The state environmental department notified Duke Energy today that it must submit plans to address the environmental impact of flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew on the H.F. Lee Energy Complex.

The state environmental department notified Duke Energy today that it must submit plans to address the environmental impact of flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew at the H.F. Lee Energy Complex.

Environmental department staff determined on Monday that material found at the H.F. Lee facility in Wayne County is not coal ash as falsely reported by a special interest group. The material, called cenospheres are inert and non-toxic.   “It’s unfortunate that a political group masquerading as environmentalists is deliberately trying to mislead the public,” said Tom Reeder, assistant secretary of the environmental department. “This type of fear mongering is appalling in the wake of a storm that cost people their lives, their homes, and their businesses.”

Under the direction of Governor Pat McCrory, state environmental inspectors will begin sampling water quality this week downstream from swine farms. Testing will continue over the next few weeks in areas where floodwaters have started to recede.

The state marine fisheries division is accepting public comment on a bottom lease for shellfish aquaculture in Carteret County. Stevenson L. Weeks Jr. has filed an application to lease approximately 3.2 acres in Newport River near Penn Point. A map of the proposed lease site can be found here.

State environmental officials are asking the public to weigh in on draft proposed water quality permits for Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station.

The North Carolina Marine Patrol is helping residents and emergency workers get to Ocracoke safely this weekend. Officers are assisting Hyde County with checking reentry criteria at the Hatteras ferry dock.

State environmental inspectors flew over farms in eastern North Carolina this weekend to survey the impact of Hurricane Matthew. The aerial tours indicate that some lagoons were inundated by floodwaters but did not show any confirmed breaches or overtopping.

RALEIGH – The state environmental department evaluated conditions at Duke Energy’s H.F. Lee facility on Saturday and determined that a minimal amount of coal ash – described as less than would fit in a pickup truck – was released from an inactive basin.