Press Releases

Wildfire smoke in western North Carolina may be producing unhealthy air quality in at least five counties, and residents are urged to take precautions.Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties may experience Code Red air quality conditions, defined as air that is unhealthy for anyone to breathe. Residents should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors in these areas. Anyone sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with asthma, should avoid outdoor exertion.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Nov. 15-17 at the Islander Hotel and Resort, 102 Islander Dr., Emerald Isle. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet Nov. 9 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m., and a public comment period is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to 3 minutes per person. Prior to the commission meeting, the Coastal Resources Advisory Council (CRAC) will meet Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. at the same location. Both meetings are open to the public.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of 15 counties as of Oct. 31.

The North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission is conducting a periodic review of the geophysical exploration rules as required by state statute and is accepting public comment through January 8, 2024.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources will hold a public hearing on December 6 on the adoption of proposed final rules for three grant programs: the Aquatic Weed Control Fund, Coastal Storm Mitigation Fund and the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging Fund. Comments will also be accepted until Jan. 2, 2024.

 The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality launched a new online Erosion & Sediment Control application for the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) as part of the Department’s new

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is accepting grant applications to fund projects that will reduce emissions from diesel engines.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly by web conference on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is seeking public comment on a draft air quality permit for Dura-Supreme, LLC - Statesville, a new wood cabinet manufacturing facility in Iredell County.Comments will be accepted until Nov. 16, 2023.Dura-Supreme applied to DAQ for a Title V air quality permit to construct and operate the new facility. Because emissions of volatile organic compounds would be greater than 100 tons per year, the facility would be classified as a major source.