Press Releases

Nineteen rules go into effect as of Aug. 23, including amendments pertaining to reducing shellfish lease user conflicts, repackaging foreign crab meat, and limiting certain gears on state ocean artificial reefs. The rules were amended and readopted under a state mandated periodic review schedule.

Three new members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission members took the oath of office and participated in their first meeting this week. Governor Roy Cooper recently announced three new appointments to the commission: Donald Huggins, Doug Rader, and Ana Shellem. Huggins fills an at-large seat, Rader fills the scientist seat, and Shellem fills a commercial fisherman seat.

Regional partners, led by the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP), have published an updated map of the extent of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in North Carolina’s sounds during 2020. SAV, also known as seagrasses or underwater grasses, improve water quality, decrease shoreline erosion, and are an essential habitat for many fishery and wildlife species.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a spotted seatrout stock assessment peer review workshop Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at the Courtyard by Marriott, 5046 Henderson Dr., Jacksonville.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a public hearing September 20, 2022, on proposed amendments to its 15A NCAC 01E “Oil Refinery Facility Permit” rules as part of the required rule review and readoption process set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 150B-21.3A.  The purpose of this public hearing is to allow interested persons to submit oral comments regarding DEQ’s proposed amendments to 15A NCAC 01E, which relate to Oil Refinery Facility Permits.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted water quality swimming advisories at two sound-side sites in Carteret County.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus).

The Division of Air Quality today announced grant awards to replace 61 transit buses with cleaner low-emission vehicles, including 25 electric buses, using Volkswagen Settlement funding.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is  giving an additional 30 days for public comment on a draft air quality permit for the Carolina Poultry Power RG3, LLC facility in La Grange. Public comments will now be accepted until Sept. 16, 2022. The extension aims to give the public additional time to review the permitting documents and give the Division more opportunity for enhanced public outreach as recommended in the draft environmental justice report for this project.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host an in-person public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 25, on the draft Title V air permit for World Cat Greenville.