Press Releases

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.

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.

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.

Most of North Carolina continues to experience moderate drought, according to the latest advisory from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will hold a special meeting Dec. 16 by web conference to hear a variance request from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The meeting will be limited to this one agenda item. Members of the public may join by computer or phone.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comment on the draft Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan Amendment 5 and draft Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is accepting comments on a proposed rule change that would effectively adopt the federal drinking water standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The comment period will open Dec. 16, and will end Feb. 14, 2025, with a public hearing planned on Jan. 7 in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Mining Rules Committee that was scheduled to meet on Dec. 16, 2024 has been canceled.