Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has certified two North Carolina Clean Marinas, a designation given to marinas that exceed minimum regulatory requirements. Sloop Point Marina in Pender County received certification in October. Calabash Marina in Brunswick County received certification in November.

As we enter the holiday season, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is providing guidance to property owners, organizations and towns that plan to accept natural Christmas trees for use in dune restoration. Natural Christmas trees may be used as a substitute for traditional sand fencing but must be free of decorations and should be placed in a manner that meets the state’s rules for sand fencing.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has been selected as a host for the 2025-2027 class of NOAA Coastal Management Fellows. The project goal is to enhance the accessibility of GIS data produced by North Carolina’s communities through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), ensuring the data is available to residents and external stakeholders in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is accepting public comments on an analysis of smoke impacts in North Carolina from the 2023 Canadian wildfires. This analysis, called an Exceptional Events Demonstration, is intended to support DAQ’s recommendation that the state be designated in attainment with a stricter air quality standard for fine particulate matter.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has been selected as a host for the 2025-2027 class of NOAA Coastal Management Fellows. The project goal is to enhance the accessibility of GIS data produced by North Carolina’s communities through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), ensuring the data is available to residents and external stakeholders in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has launched four additional online applications as part of the continuing effort to update and improve the permitting process.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality’s (DAQ) upcoming public hearing for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) cogeneration facility will now be held at the Chapel Hill Town Hall.In addition to changing the location of the public hearing, the start time has also been moved up to 6 p.m. Also, the comment period has been extended to Jan. 23.

La División de Recursos Hídricos del Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Carolina del Norte celebrará una audiencia el 17 de diciembre para escuchar los comentarios públicos sobre la propuesta de renovación del permiso del Sistema Nacional de Eliminación de Vertidos Contaminantes para la planta textil industrial de Lear Corp. cerca de Kenansville.  El permiso regula los contaminantes vertidos en las aguas residuales de la planta.

In addition to accepting public input at a public hearing on Dec. 17, DWR has extended the comment period for written and emailed comments. DWR will now accept written and emailed comments through 5 p.m Jan. 10.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is hosting a series of public outreach meetings to train fishermen on the Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS). The OTSS is an automated system that will be used to schedule observer trips for Estuarine Gill Net Permit (EGNP) holders in North Carolina.