Press Releases

RALEIGH – After a thorough review and public participation process, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has approved the closure plan detailing the excavation of coal ash impoundments at the Allen Steam Station located in Belmont. DEQ has determined that the closure plan meets the requirements of the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) and is protective of public health and the environment.

Advisories against swimming were posted today at two sound-side sites 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.

State recreational water quality officials today are alerting the public that initial testing at a sound-side site in Pamlico 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 lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Dare County.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Fisheries Relief Program. The financial assistance is available to eligible commercial fishermen, for-hire fishing operators, seafood dealers and processors, and marine aquaculture operations with revenue losses in the spring of 2020 greater than 35% as compared to the prior 5-year average revenue.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will hold a public hearing on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. by web conference to consider amendments to 15A NCAC 07H .0304 and 15A NCAC 07H .0312. The public may join the meeting online.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) is awarding $11.5 million in grants to eight communities in coastal North Carolina for projects related to Hurricane Florence damage.

State recreational water quality officials lift two water quality swimming alerts at ocean-side sites in Pender County.

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

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are developing Amendment 2 to the N.C. Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public scoping period Nov. 2-15, 2020 to solicit public comments on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendment.