Press Releases

State authorizes utility to move forward with lined landfill for coal ash storage

State officials today authorized Duke Energy to operate a double-lined, industrial landfill that will be used to store coal ash and other wastes at the utility’s Dan River Steam Station in Rockingham County.   

Shrimp catches and sales soared, but overall commercial landings lower in 2016

A warm autumn kept commercial fishermen catching and selling shrimp up to New Year’s Eve last year, boosting 2016 shrimp landings to the highest since the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Trip Ticket Program began in 1994. But overall, the 60 million pounds of finfish and shellfish commercial fishermen caught and sold at the docks was a 9 percent decrease from 2015. The total estimated dockside value of $94 million was about $700,000 short of the 2015 value. 

No drought or dry conditions in North Carolina for first time in more than a year

For the first time since March 2016, all North Carolina’s 100 counties are determined to be free from drought or dry conditions.  

State initiates formal public comment period on environmental permit for Duke Energy’s Sutton plant

 Officials with the state Department of Environmental Quality are initiating the public comment period for a draft proposed water quality permit for Duke Energy’s Sutton Steam Plant.

CORRECTION: Two municipalities, Lenoir and Hickory, were inadvertently left off a previous news release issued May 9

Staff in the N.C. Division of Water Resources have honored 51 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards.

State environmental panel grants interbasin transfer certificate

A state environmental panel has granted Union County a certificate to transfer a maximum of 23 million gallons of water a day from the Yadkin River Basin to the Rocky River Basin to meet Union County's projected water demands through 2050.

North Carolina honors 49 drinking water treatment plants

Staff in the N.C. Division of Water Resources have honored 49 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards.

Public input sought for hunting permit system at Rachel Carson Reserve

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. March 9 in Beaufort to seek input on a proposal for a public hunting permit system for the Rachel Carson Reserve.

State coastal commission will meet on April 26-27 in Manteo

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission will meet April 26-27 in Manteo to discuss issues such as the living shoreline general permit, a land use plan for Perquimans County, and repairing and protecting dunes.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Four coastal reserve sites to hold Local Advisory Committee meetings in April

Local Advisory Committees for four coastal reserves will meet in April. The meetings are open to the public.