Press Releases

The state marine fisheries agency will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish bottom and water column leases in Dare County at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Fessenden Center, 46830 N.C. 12, Buxton. Ryan Belter has applied to lease about 1.39 acres of bottom and water column northwest of Bald Point in Pamlico Sound near Buxton. Also, William Belter has applied to expand his existing bottom and water column lease by 2.49 acres west of Bald Point.

State environmental officials visited Columbus County Tuesday to tour a temporary debris site set up to assist with recovery efforts from Hurricane Matthew. Under the direction of Governor Pat McCrory, the state environmental department activated 64 temporary debris sites for use in eastern North Carolina to collect yard waste, land clearing or demolition debris from the storm.

The North Carolina Marine Patrol is helping to keep the people of Lumberton safe in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Marine Patrol officers, part of the state’s emergency response system, began providing law enforcement assistance in the flood-ravaged city on Tuesday. They will continue this service through the end of October. The officers are providing security at emergency shelters, distribution facilities, the water treatment plant and other areas in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

While eastern North Carolina is still reeling from the flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew, three counties in western North Carolina have been designated as experiencing extreme drought conditions. The extreme drought in Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties was caused by below normal rainfall and has significantly impacted agriculture in those areas. A lack of significant rainfall in recent months has resulted in below normal ground water levels and stream flows.

The state environmental department notified Duke Energy today that it must submit plans to address the environmental impact of flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew on the H.F. Lee Energy Complex.

The state environmental department notified Duke Energy today that it must submit plans to address the environmental impact of flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew at the H.F. Lee Energy Complex.

Environmental department staff determined on Monday that material found at the H.F. Lee facility in Wayne County is not coal ash as falsely reported by a special interest group. The material, called cenospheres are inert and non-toxic.   “It’s unfortunate that a political group masquerading as environmentalists is deliberately trying to mislead the public,” said Tom Reeder, assistant secretary of the environmental department. “This type of fear mongering is appalling in the wake of a storm that cost people their lives, their homes, and their businesses.”

Under the direction of Governor Pat McCrory, state environmental inspectors will begin sampling water quality this week downstream from swine farms. Testing will continue over the next few weeks in areas where floodwaters have started to recede.

The state marine fisheries division is accepting public comment on a bottom lease for shellfish aquaculture in Carteret County. Stevenson L. Weeks Jr. has filed an application to lease approximately 3.2 acres in Newport River near Penn Point. A map of the proposed lease site can be found here.

State environmental officials are asking the public to weigh in on draft proposed water quality permits for Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station.