Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) invites its members, business leaders, and the public to attend the annual North Carolina ESI Conference on September 26 -27 at the North Carolina Rural Economic Center in Raleigh. 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus).

State officials today lifted the precautionary advisory against swimming issued due to Tropical Storm Idalia is in most ocean and sound-side waters of the state. but a few areas remain under advisory.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management is holding a public hearing with an opportunity for public comment on the Draft Remedial Action Plan for the Nash County Landfill (it is also known as Red Oak Landfill).  The Draft Remedial Action Plan will address soil contamination at the pre-1983 landfill, which is located along Red Oak Battleboro Road in Red Oak.Date and Time: October 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 (doors open at 5:15)Location: Town of Red Oak Cabin Address: 4845 Church Street, Battleboro, NC 27809

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet Wednesday, Sept. 13, and Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at the Wayne West Building at Carteret Community College, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC. The public may attend in person or via remote access. Room information and remote access links will be posted on the EMC webpage.

During the fall meeting of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) this week, members elected Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser of North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality to serve as president. In addition to Secretary Biser, the ECOS Officers for the 2023-2024 term are:

State recreational water quality officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in North Carolina coastal waters from Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk south to the South Carolina State Line affected by Tropical Storm Idalia.

The 2023 recreational flounder season for Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters will open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday Sept. 15, 2023, and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The possession limit will be one flounder per person per day.

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.

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.