Press Releases

State officials with the N.C. Division of Water Resources continue to urge the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in the Albemarle Sound and adjoining waterbodies, due to an algal bloom that has lingered in the area since May 14, 2019.

Bald Head Woods Reserve, located on Bald Head Island just east of the Cape Fear River, is now completely open to visitors after a nearly 10-month closure due to Hurricane Florence. The department thanks the North Carolina Forest Service for clearing large trees and storm debris in order to fully open the hiking trails for public use. All ten reserve sites are now open following Hurricane Florence. Visitors should exercise caution when visiting the reserve sites and be aware of the risk of potentially hazardous conditions associated with storm damage.

The N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet July 10-11 at the Archdale Building in downtown Raleigh. Commission committees will meet Wednesday, July 10, with the full commission meeting Thursday, July 11.

The application period for the first round of funding under the Volkswagen Settlement program opens today. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has posted the applications for Diesel Bus and Vehicle projects that significantly reduce emissions and for Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) DC Fast Charge Infrastructure projects.

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

The population dynamics on the coast of North Carolina are changing, and the workload for coastal development permits is shifting, too. To keep up with the times, the Division of Coastal Management will adjust the jurisdictions of its four regulatory district offices. The change will take place July 1.

To: Interested Parties From: Sharon Martin, Communications Director Date:  June 26, 2019 Re:  DEQ Secretary statement on the conference budget After a careful review of the conference budget, DEQ finds the budget does not adequately address the needs of the department to protect the air, water, and land quality of the state.

State recreational water quality officials today are alerting the public that initial testing at a sound-side site in Beaufort County showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

State recreational water quality officials today are alerting the public that initial testing at a sound-side site in Beaufort County showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are urging the public to act responsibly during the upcoming July Fourth holiday at the Masonboro Island Reserve, a research reserve and dedicated state nature preserve.