Press Releases

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission scheduled for Sept. 27-28 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Drive, in Wilmington, has been canceled due to potential impacts on the Outer Banks from Hurricane Maria.

State environmental officials Wednesday recognized Uchiyama Manufacturing America LLC, in Goldsboro for its outstanding environmental performance.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission will meet in Wilmington next week to provide new commissioners with an overview of the state’s coastal program, consider amendments to rules on erosion control and other coastal issues. 

State officials have directed Chemours to provide bottled water to 11 homeowners near the company’s Fayetteville Works facility after the company’s preliminary test results showed GenX above state health goals in residential drinking wells.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve is inviting coastal residents to celebrate National Estuaries Day. The N.C. Coastal Reserve will host an event in partnership with the N.C. Maritime Museum on Sept. 23 in downtown Beaufort. This free, educational event will take place outside the N.C. Maritime Museum from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 315 Front Street in Beaufort. Educators and scientists will present information and activities about coastal science and the importance of estuaries.

The state departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services will host a community information session on Thursday for people interested in the state’s plans to test private wells near Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility in Bladen County.

In preparing for Hurricane Irma, state environmental officials are providing North Carolinians with guidance on the best methods for disposing of storm debris. The best way to dispose of most storm debris – especially debris from damaged houses and other buildings – is to rely on your county or municipality’s waste disposal services or haul your waste to a permitted municipal solid waste landfill.

State officials initiated additional enforcement actions against Chemours Wednesday after preliminary state test results detected GenX in violation of state groundwater standards in non-drinking water wells at the company’s Fayetteville Works facility.

State officials ordered Chemours on Tuesday to stop releasing all fluorinated compounds into the Cape Fear River and began legal action against the company and the process to suspend its permit for discharging wastewater into the river.

Officials with the N.C. Division of Water Resources are investigating a spill of wastewater at a Jones County swine farm, which resulted in a discharge to the Trent River. The cause and volume of the wastewater discharge have not yet been determined.