Press Releases

Federal comment period extended for North Carolina’s Incidental Take Permit application

The National Marine Fisheries Service is extending the public comment period on its Dec. 22, 2022, notice of receipt of North Carolina’s Incidental Take Permit application and conservation plan to address sturgeon and sea turtle interactions in the state’s estuarine anchored gill net fishery. The public comment period will be extended by 30 days to Feb. 22, 2023. Comments previously submitted do not need to be resubmitted.

DEQ makes grant opportunities easier to navigate

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) launched a new webpage that provides information on all DEQ funding programs in one place, along with a searchable list of currently open applications for grant opportunities.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public hearing scheduled for Carteret County shellfish lease proposals

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. The hearing will be held in-person at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, and by WebEx.

North Carolina Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board to meet February 6

The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet on Monday, February 6th in the Archdale Ground Floor Hearing room at 10am.  The public is invited to attend the meeting in-person or online.                       What:    North Carolina Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board Meeting

DEQ announces new lead service line replacement funding during summit on water infrastructure needs and funding in disadvantaged areas

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced new lead service line replacement funding, made available through the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Applications for the funding will be available in February during the Division of Water Infrastructure’s spring 2023 funding round. The deadline for submitting applications is May 1, 2023.

N.C. Department of Environmental Quality rolls out new online permitting system; Division of Coastal Management first to launch

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is the first division to implement a new online permitting system as part of the Permitting Transformation Program at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Applications for the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) major permits are now available in the new online system.

State certifies White Grunt as new state record

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii).

Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board to meet February 9

The Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board will hold its quarterly business meeting in-person on February 9 at 3 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend in-person or online.             Who: Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board             What: Hybrid quarterly meeting

REMINDER: DEQ Holding Stakeholder Engagement Meetings to Receive Input on Advanced Clean Trucks Program

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a series of information and listening sessions with stakeholders in the coming weeks before proposing new rules for an Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program in North Carolina.

REMINDER: Grant applications for Phases 1 and 2 of N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program available; Application process webinar scheduled for Jan. 12

The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) is reminding communities and service providers to apply for participation in Phases 1 and 2 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) grant cycle. DCM first announced grant availability December 2022. An informational webinar on the Phase 1 and 2 application process will be held on Jan. 12, 2023, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.