Press Releases

During the Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) Annual Conference, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality recognized members of ESI for their commitment to environmental excellence.“All the facilities involved in the state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative have committed to going above and beyond to protect our natural resources,” said DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “Their efforts benefit both our environment and our economy.”

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory for a sound-side swimming area in Dare County.

North Carolina’s 2023 Appropriations Act Session Law 2023-134 includes fee adjustments for 28 Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) programs to support the delivery of services and state employee salaries. This is the first fee increase in 16 years for most of these programs. The budget, enacted today, is effective as of July 1, 2023. 

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

El Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Carolina del Norte (DEQ, por sus siglas en inglés) tendrá múltiples audiencias públicas como parte del actual período de comentarios de 90 días sobre seis proyectos de permisos generales de Operaciones de Alimentación Animal. Estos permisos generales son para las instalaciones elegibles de ganado porcino, vacuno y aves de corral sin descarga con sistemas de gestión de residuos líquidos y operaciones de alimentación animal con sistemas de digestores agrícolas.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold multiple public hearings as part of its ongoing 90-day comment period on six draft Animal Feeding Operations general permits. These general permits are for eligible non-discharge swine, cattle and poultry facilities with liquid waste management systems and animal feeding operations with farm digester systems. Public input received at the events and through Nov. 3, 2023, will be considered in the development of the general permits which will become effective in Fall 2024.

North Carolinians continue to breathe the cleanest air in decades as emissions of harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter reach historic lows, according to the latest update of the “Air Quality Trends in North Carolina” report published by the N.C. Division of Air Quality.

The Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board will hold its quarterly business meeting in-person on October 12 at 3 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend in-person or online.             Who: Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board            What: Quarterly meeting

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Beaufort County, where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) Science Panel will meet Oct. 2 at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, 203 South Front Street, Second Floor Berne Room, New Bern. During this meeting, the Science Panel will conduct a follow-up assessment of recent studies concerning sea-level rise, review updates related to Inlet Hazard Areas, and discuss methodologies and data pertaining to oceanfront erosion rates. The meeting will begin at 11:45 a.m. The public may listen by computer or phone.