Press Releases

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host an online public hearing on May 4 to receive comment on the proposed rules to regulate emissions of methyl bromide at log fumigation operations. The public hearings initially scheduled for March 17, 2020 and March 18, 2020 were cancelled due to guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) recently approved an individual 401 Water Quality Certification for Cashiers Canoe Club Development, LLC, for dredging and development activities that will impact roughly 10 acres on Cashiers Lake in Jackson County.

A N.C. Coastal Resources Commission’s (CRC) subcommittee will meet by web conference on Wednesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. to continue discussing the implementation of development lines and static line exceptions on oceanfront beaches. The public may listen to the meeting by phone.

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will require extensive revisions to the proposed Corrective Action Plan submitted by Chemours on December 31, 2019, due to inadequacies in the plan.  

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will close select reserve sites to visitors effective April 3 at 7:30 p.m. to protect public safety and reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to support current state and local restrictions and guidance. Closures specifically apply to wet/dry beaches and uplands at the sites, while waters remain accessible for visitors to navigate through and utilize for recreational activities as long as they follow social distancing and gathering restrictions and guidelines

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comments on two proposed diamondback terrapin management areas

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, April 8. The meeting will be conducted remotely, via WebEx, in place of an in-person meeting.

RALEIGH – The public hearing scheduled for the issuance of a hazardous waste draft renewal operating permit for the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 11, in Courtroom C at the Pasquotank County Courthouse, based on public health guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. A new comment period will be re-established at a future date. Comments may still be submitted at this time and will be considered along with any future comments.

RALEIGH – The public hearing scheduled for the issuance of a hazardous waste renewal permit for corrective action at the former DuPont Brevard facility on Wednesday, April 8, at the Transylvania County Public Library has been canceled based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. The former facility is located in Cedar Mountain in Transylvania County. A new comment period will be re-established at a future date. Comments may still be submitted at this time and will be considered along with any future comments.

During the current public health crisis, DEQ continues to protect air quality, water quality and human health under all state environmental rules and regulations.