Press Releases

WHAT: Public hearing on the draft NPDES stormwater permit for the Cape Fear Steam Electric PlantWHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 29; speaker registration begins at 5 p.m. WHERE: Central Carolina Community College, 764 West St., Pittsboro, N.C.The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing Monday to receive public comments on the draft NPDES stormwater discharge permit for Duke Energy’s Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant.

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for Asheville Steam Electric PlantWHEN: 6 p.m. March. 1WHERE: AB Technical Community College Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting Tuesday to receive public comments on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for Asheville Steam Electric Plant.

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for Sutton Power StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March. 1WHERE: Cape Fear Community College, room N-202, 411 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting Tuesday to receive public comments on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for the Sutton Power Station. 

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for Riverbend Steam Station.WHEN: 6 p.m. March. 1WHERE: Gaston College Myers Center Auditorium, 201 Highway U.S. 321 S Dallas, NC 28034.The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting Tuesday to receive public comments on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for the Riverbend Steam Station. 

WHAT: Public meeting on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for Dan River Steam StationWHEN: 6 p.m. March. 1WHERE: Eden Town Hall, 308 East Stadium Drive Eden, North Carolina 27288The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting Tuesday to receive public comments on the draft proposed coal ash risk classification for the Dan River Steam Station. 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold seven public meetings in March to receive suggestions and comments on cultch planting.Cultch planting involves strategically placing shells and rock to enhance shellfish habitat in potentially productive shellfish areas. Oysters, clams and other aquatic life are attracted to the cultch and begin to immediately colonize on the material.

WHAT: Public hearing on the draft NPDES stormwater permit for Asheville Steam Electric PlantWHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 24; speaker registration begins at 5 p.m. WHERE: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Rd., AshevilleThe N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing Wednesday to receive public comments on the draft NPDES stormwater discharge permit for Duke Energy’s Asheville Steam Electric Plant.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public meeting to discuss the Atlantic Ocean monkfish large mesh gill net fishery at 6 p.m. March 3 at the division’s Manteo Office, 1021 Driftwood Drive, Manteo.The purpose of the meeting is for division staff to explain to fishermen the permit requirements and other conditions for participation in the fishery.

More than 150 hotels and other tourism-oriented businesses have earned special recognition for their work to conserve natural resources, thanks to a state program that demonstrates Governor Pat McCrory’s commitment to environmental protection and economic development.

State environmental officials issued a critical permit today that will serve as a model for the safe closure of all coal ash ponds throughout the state.After more than a year of delays, state officials finally received approval from the federal government to issue the permit, which provides for the safe removal of water from coal ash ponds in preparation for closure. Dewatering of ash ponds is done under strict monitoring by state environmental officials and is an essential step in removing the threat coal ash presents to the environment and public health.