Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Coastal Management (DCM) invites communities and contractors to apply to participate in Phases 1 through 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), which aims to equip communities with additional capability to understand and enhance coastal resilience at the local level. DCM estimates that approximately $2 million will be available for Phases 1 and 2 in FY 2025-2026 and approximately $6 million will be available for Phase 3 and Phase 4 projects in FY 2025-2026. The application deadline for both community and

The North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has been alerted to an animal waste spill impacting Carltons Mill Run creek in Duplin County.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) is accepting proposals until May 30 through the Clean Water Act-Section 319 (h) Nonpoint Source Grant Funding Program for projects seeking to restore impaired waterways impacted by nonpoint source pollution. The state expects to be able to award $1.5 million in finding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fiscal year 2025 for competitive funding of watershed restoration projects under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office’s upcoming public engagement session in Fayetteville will now be held at the Cumberland County East Regional Public Library. This session is part of a series of public engagement opportunities to provide information and gather feedback on the Department’s initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the CPRG Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP).    

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet March 12-13 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

License sales at the Division of Marine Fisheries Manteo Office will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday this week (March 4-5), reopening on Thursday, March 6.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is accepting comments until March 14, 2025 on updates to several Intended Use Plans (IUPs) and Project Priority Lists, and until March 31, 2025, for new draft Intended Use Plans and proposed Priority Rating Systems for the State Revolving Fund and Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) programs.

During the Feb. 2025 regular business meeting of the NC Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) in New Bern, NC, former Division of Coastal Management (DCM) Deputy Director, Michael “Mike” Lopazanski was recognized with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Granted by the Office of the Governor to honor those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments, the award is the highest civilian honor in the state of North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a public hearing on April 22 to hear public comment on proposed changes to North Carolina’s surface water quality standards, including the addition of standard for E. coli as an indicator of pathogens, or disease-causing organisms, in recreational waters.

March 1 marks the beginning of the 2025 ozone season as state and local environmental agencies renew their daily air quality forecasts for ozone across North Carolina.Through Oct. 31, the daily air quality forecasts from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will include ozone in addition to fine particle matter (PM2.5) pollution, which is forecast year-round. The daily air quality forecast is available on the Air Quality Portal.