Press Releases

Following Governor’s Advocacy, EPA Reverses Approval of Plan to Import Chemours Waste

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rescinded its approval for imports of waste material containing GenX from a Chemours facility in the Netherlands to the Chemours Fayetteville Works Plant in North Carolina. The EPA notified Governor Cooper by letter today of the decision.

Extreme, severe drought conditions expand in North Carolina

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) expanded the Extreme Drought (D3) designation to parts of four additional counties in southwestern North Carolina, and classified 10 more counties in the Piedmont as in Severe Drought.

Division of Marine Fisheries Manteo License Office will be closed Wednesday and through the weekend

The Division of Marine Fisheries license office in Manteo will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 22, reopening on Monday Nov. 27. 

DAQ Issues Air Quality Permit to Dura-Supreme in Statesville

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a Title V air quality permit to Dura-Supreme, LLC – Statesville. The permit will allow the company to construct and operate a wood cabinet manufacturing facility in Iredell County.

REMINDER: N. C. Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel to meet Nov. 27 by web conference

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) Science Panel will meet Nov. 27 by web conference to continue their work on sea level rise and inlet hazard areas. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. The public may listen by computer or phone.

N.C. Coastal Reserve to hold fall local advisory committee meetings

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold fall local advisory committee meetings Dec. 4-14 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.

State establishes Almaco Jack state record

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).

Extreme drought impacts 9 counties as drought continues across North Carolina

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has identified nine counties in the Extreme Drought category (D3 category), for the first time since 2017, as part of expanding drought conditions across the state.

Marine Fisheries Commission advances Striped Mullet plan to public comment

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission today took a further step toward recovery of the striped mullet fishery, voting to send the Draft Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 for public and advisory committee review.

Public advised to avoid algal bloom near Bay Tree Lake in Bladen County

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) advises the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in a canal near Bay Tree Lake in Bladen County due to an algal bloom that has lingered in the area since Oct. 27.