Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ)is now accepting public comments on a draft Title V air quality permit modification for International Paper – Riegelwood Mill in Columbus County. The modification is expected to significantly reduce emissions of air pollution, particularly volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide.Public comments will be accepted until Feb. 3.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of Department of Environmental Quality’s Archdale Building in Raleigh Jan. 8-9. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has certified two North Carolina Clean Marinas, a designation given to marinas that exceed minimum regulatory requirements. Sloop Point Marina in Pender County received certification in October. Calabash Marina in Brunswick County received certification in November.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has awarded more than $3.6 million in grants to support stream restoration, water-based recreation and water management projects across North Carolina.

As we enter the holiday season, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is providing guidance to property owners, organizations and towns that plan to accept natural Christmas trees for use in dune restoration. Natural Christmas trees may be used as a substitute for traditional sand fencing but must be free of decorations and should be placed in a manner that meets the state’s rules for sand fencing.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has been selected as a host for the 2025-2027 class of NOAA Coastal Management Fellows. The project goal is to enhance the accessibility of GIS data produced by North Carolina’s communities through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), ensuring the data is available to residents and external stakeholders in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has launched four additional online applications as part of the continuing effort to update and improve the permitting process.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is accepting public comments on an analysis of smoke impacts in North Carolina from the 2023 Canadian wildfires. This analysis, called an Exceptional Events Demonstration, is intended to support DAQ’s recommendation that the state be designated in attainment with a stricter air quality standard for fine particulate matter.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has been selected as a host for the 2025-2027 class of NOAA Coastal Management Fellows. The project goal is to enhance the accessibility of GIS data produced by North Carolina’s communities through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), ensuring the data is available to residents and external stakeholders in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is hosting a series of public outreach meetings to train fishermen on the Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS). The OTSS is an automated system that will be used to schedule observer trips for Estuarine Gill Net Permit (EGNP) holders in North Carolina.