Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold public hearings on June 21 and 23 to accept comments on the draft discharge permit for a proposed groundwater treatment system at the Chemours Fayetteville Works facility that would substantially reduce the PFAS entering the Cape Fear River via contaminated groundwater. Chemours is required to remove at least 99% of PFAS from the contaminated groundwater before discharge. Currently, contaminated groundwater flowing into the river is not intercepted or treated.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Dare County.

State recreational water quality officials today notified the public that testing of ocean waters along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore showed bacteria levels that meet state and federal standards for swimming and water play.

The Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Board will hold its quarterly business meeting at NC State’s McKimmon Center in Room 3 at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.  Members of the public are invited to attend in person or listen online. Who: Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board What:  Quarterly business meeting via WebEx When:  Thursday, May 19th at 3pm Where: McKimmon Center, Room 3 1101 Gorman St., Raleigh, NC 27606  

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is now accepting applications for the Clean Heavy-Duty Equipment and Vehicle Program under Phase 2 of the Volkswagen Mitigation plan.

The Division of Water Infrastructure is accepting comments on the draft Intended Use Plans, including Priority Rating Systems, for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and the Priority Rating System for the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure Program until June 15, 2022.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person May 25-26 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 and at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 26. The commission will hold in-person public comment sessions at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 and near the beginning of the meeting on Thursday, May 26. Public comment will not be taken through web conference. The following information pertains to in-person public comment:

The State Energy’s Office will hold its quarterly Energy Policy Council  meeting on May 18th via WebEx. Members of the public are welcome to participate online or by phone.  Internet access is not required to attend the meeting.              Who: State Energy’s Office             What: Energy Policy Council Quarterly Meeting via WebEx

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold local advisory committee meetings May 18 through 26 for eight reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public. The Bald Head Woods Reserve meeting time has been changed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New shrimp management measures will go into effect May 15 in North Carolina state waters. The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved the measures to reduce bycatch and protect habitat with the adoption of the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 at its February business meeting.