Press Releases

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the City of Hickory Water Treatment Plant, 1560 Old Lenoir Road NW, HIckory 28601.

The N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet September 11-12 at the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury Street in Raleigh.

Three N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites are open to visitors after closure due to Hurricane Dorian. These include:

RALEIGH – The Department of Environmental Quality’s Fayetteville Regional Office will be closed Friday,

Additional offices that will be closed Friday:

Some Department of Environmental Quality offices will close due to forecasted impacts of Hurricane Dorian. The Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office closed at noon today and will remain closed Thursday and Friday.

All coastal waters in North Carolina will temporarily close to shellfish harvest at sunrise Thursday. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is temporarily closing state shellfish waters due to the impending impacts of Hurricane Dorian.

The sites of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will close to visitors at dusk today until further notice due to the threat of damage from Hurricane Dorian and to protect public safety from the potential risk of downed trees, flooding and other hazards.

State recreational water quality officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in all coastal waters of North Carolina following Hurricane Dorian. Residents and visitors should avoid swimming in all coastal waters until testing indicates bacteria levels meet state and federal standards.

State officials will host a public hearing September 5 in Cashiers to gather comments on a water quality certification for Cashiers Canoe Club Development, LLC.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comment through September 18 on the draft Public Participation Plan and draft Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan.