Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking input from the public on potential management strategies for an upcoming amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The amendment will examine management strategies to further reduce bycatch of non-target species in the shrimp trawl fishery and potential changes to existing shrimp management strategies. Fishermen and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide input by either attending one of three scoping meetings or providing written comments.

The N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committee will meet jointly with the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Committee at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington. The two committees are scheduled to review and vote on recurring funding opportunities from the Commercial Fishing Resource Fund.

The N. C. Division of Water Infrastructure will host a public meeting on January 13 soliciting comments on the draft Intended Use Plans (IUPs), including principal forgiveness criteria and priority rating systems, related to funding provided by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (ASADRA). ASADRA funding is available only for water and wastewater utilities impacted by Hurricanes Florence and/or Michael.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting public comment until February 5, on a proposed groundwater corrective action plan to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater and surface water at the Chemours Fayetteville Works Site.

The N.C. Division of Waste Management’s Inactive Hazardous Sites Branch (IHSB) will host a public information meeting on January 13 concerning risk management plans for the residential area near the Davidson Depot property (former Carolina Asbestos Corporation site) in Davidson.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has secured the excavation of nearly 80 million tons of coal ash at six facilities in North Carolina. Under a settlement agreement with community and environmental groups and Duke Energy that ends the appeal litigation, Duke Energy will move forward with excavation plans at the Allen, Belews Creek, Cliffside, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro sites, moving coal ash into on-site lined landfills.  

The N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) will meet January 8 and 9 at the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury Street in Raleigh. Committees of the commission will meet Wednesday, January 8, with the full commission meeting Thursday, January 9. All of the meetings will be held in the Ground Floor Hearing Room.

This year, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) took key actions to protect the environment and health of all North Carolinians and to address the impacts of climate change.

The state Division of Coastal Management has awarded more than $1 million to eight local governments to improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The North Carolina Division of Air Quality is accepting public comment through January 30, 2020 on the draft of the air monitoring study in Duplin County.