Press Releases

The Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, will present to the Environmental Management Commission, or EMC, this week its primary plan in response to the federal power plan rule for controlling carbon dioxide emissions. The primary plan consists of a proposed rule for improving efficiencies at the state’s electric generating units. The primary plan is based on the only component of the federal power plan rule that the department believes is legal. Allowing this proposed rule to go to hearing will ensure that the state can meet the federal power plan’s September 2016 deadline.

Duke Energy agrees to pay fines and accelerate groundwater cleanup at four coal ash facilities RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, reached a settlement with Duke Energy today that holds Duke Energy accountable for groundwater contamination at all of its 14 coal ash facilities and requires accelerated cleanup of groundwater contamination at four sites.

People will have an opportunity to comment on a proposal to exempt small sources from air permitting requirements at a public hearing that state environmental officials have scheduled for early November in Raleigh.The state Environmental Management Commission has scheduled the hearing for 6 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building, 512 North Salisbury St., Raleigh. People will have opportunities to speak at the hearing and can submit written comments until Nov. 30.