Press Releases

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission increased this year’s flounder allocation for the recreational fishery at its business meeting this week, adopting Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a public hearing on Sept. 25 in order to hear public comment on a proposed amendment to rules that define the scope of parameters that can be certified by the DWR Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch (WW/GW LCB).

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 at the Tryon Palace - History Center, 529 S. Front St., New Bern. The regular business meeting of the CRC will be called to order at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 and will resume at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28. A public input and comment period is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Aug. 27. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to 3 minutes per person. The public may attend the CRC meeting in person or join online.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted water quality swimming advisories at two sites in Dare County.

The Buxton Woods Reserve site of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will close to visitors beginning Aug. 19 at 8 a.m. until further notice due to the threat of damage from Hurricane Erin, and to protect public safety from the potential risk of downed trees, flooding and other hazards.

MOREHEAD CITY – An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Beaufort 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.

MOREHEAD CITY – An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Dare 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 open burning of trash, metal, plastic and all other man-made materials not only harms the environment and poses a public health risk, it’s against NC law.

In collaboration with Land of Sky Regional Council (LOSRC), NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), Footprint Project (FP) and a network of regional partners, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) State Energy Office (SEO) is investing $5 million in permanent and mobile microgrids that will provide accessible power in the wake of future weather disasters. 

The Division of Air Quality is accepting public comment on a draft air quality permit modification for Columbia Plywood Corporation - Columbia Carolina Division, a plywood manufacturing facility in McDowell County.