Press Releases

During its Fall 2023 funding round, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is offering Emerging Contaminants funding, available to local government units, non-profit water corporations and investor-owned drinking water companies for planning or construction projects addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in water or wastewater systems. An informational webinar about PFAS funding is scheduled for Aug. 31, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Due to ongoing preparations for the approaching storm and the State of Emergency issued by Governor Roy Cooper, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore have postponed the interagency work group meeting scheduled for Aug. 30.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will implement adaptive management with a harvest moratorium in the Albemarle Sound Management Area. Despite recent management actions taken by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), the Albemarle/Roanoke striped bass stock continues to be overfished and to experience overfishing.

The North Carolina Mining Commission’s Committee on Rules Readoption meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2023, has been canceled. Information on a rescheduled meeting will be communicated when determined.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will host an interagency work group meeting on Aug. 30 by web conference to discuss government authorities for managing threatened oceanfront structures. The public may listen by computer or phone.

The Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 5 to the N.C. Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 3 to the N.C. Hard Clam FMP. The division will hold a public scoping period Sept. 11-22 to solicit input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendments and discuss stakeholder priorities. Scoping is the best opportunity for the public to inform the plan.

The North Carolina Mining Commission’s Committee on Rules Readoption will meet virtually on August 29, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m., to continue discussion regarding readoption of Mining Program rules last adopted in 2010. The public is invited to attend by computer or phone. During its meeting, the Committee will consider administrative and technical changes or updates to the existing rules that were deemed necessary by the Commission, which are available on the Mining Commission website. Information on subsequent meetings, if necessary, will be announced at a later point.

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