Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are urging the public not to celebrate Independence Day at Masonboro Island Reserve this year due to the potential spread of COVID-19 from mass gatherings. Those who do plan to visit the reserve for the July Fourth holiday should act responsibly by observing social distancing measures, including the current state requirement to wear face coverings in public.  

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has reopened the public comment period for the coal ash closure plan at the Buck Power station in Rowan County. The closure plan is required under the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA). Due to an issue with delivery of public comments submitted to DEQ by email, DEQ asks anyone who submitted comments by email previously to resubmit those comments.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is postponing the public hearing scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2020, on the draft permits for two proposed Carolina Sunrock LLC facilities.  Based on a request from county health officials and to address community concerns, the public hearing will be held on August 3, 2020, and the comment period will be extended until August 7, 2020.  Details on the rescheduled hearing will be provided with the appropriate 30-day notice.

The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) will continue the digital public hearing on a permit modification for Wake Stone Corporation on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 to accommodate pre-registered speakers.

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Carteret County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming alert at a sound-side site in Brunswick County.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has extended the deadline to renew current commercial and for-hire fishing licenses by one month in response to COVID-19

State recreational water quality officials today are alerting the public that initial testing at one ocean-side site and one sound-side site in Carteret County showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

The State Water Infrastructure Authority’s Viable Utility Reserve Committee will meet Thursday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m., remotely, via teleconference.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) for federal fiscal year 2021.