Press Releases

Marine Fisheries accepting comments on two diamondback terrapin management areas; Southern Regional Advisory Committee will meet by teleconference on April 8

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comments on two proposed diamondback terrapin management areas in the southern coastal area of the state, where fishermen will be required to use turtle excluders in crab pots.

Water Quality Committee to hold meeting via WebEx March 31

The Chairman of the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) has called a special meeting of the Water Quality Committee to be held Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 1 p.m. The meeting will be held via WebEx based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Well sampling and filtration system installation suspended near Chemours Fayetteville Works facility; PFAS/GenX Community Information Presentation Available Online

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has approved Chemours’ request to temporarily suspend off-site private well sampling efforts and filtration system installations based on current public health guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

State officials award more than $22 Million to coastal towns for disaster recovery

The state Division of Water Resources has awarded $22 Million to 13 coastal towns and counties to help with recovery efforts following Hurricane Florence.

Public hearing on Group 6 Air Quality rules to be held as teleconference on March 31

The Division of Air Quality’s March 31st public hearing for the proposed readoption of Group 6 air quality rules will be held as a teleconference instead of an in-person hearing, based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

New oyster harvest control measures implemented

http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamation-ss-02-2020New oyster harvest control measures will go into effect this spring in North Carolina state waters.

CANCELLED: Public hearings on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret and Pender counties

Three public hearings on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret and Pender counties have been cancelled based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19

Marine Fisheries Commission reopens application period for advisory committees

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has reopened the application period for its two regional committees.

Division of Coastal Management awarded funds to increase coastal resiliency in North Carolina

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management has received more than $1.1 million dollars as one of 27 new grants awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund. The funds will be used to enhance the resilience of North Carolina’s coastal communities and natural resources by supporting local planning and pre-construction activities.

State officials extend deadline for public beach access grants

The Division of Coastal Management is extending the deadline for 2020-21 Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Grant pre-applications to 5 p.m. on May 15.  The original deadline was April 17.