Press Releases

For the past 12 months, the top priority of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has been to help communities in western North Carolina recover and rebuild from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Staff from almost every division have devoted thousands of hours to the effort. DEQ has secured more than $800 million in federal and state funding, and has awarded nearly $200 million so far in grants and loans to local governments, businesses and nonprofits.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has released a revised wastewater discharge permit for Martin Marietta Materials Inc.’s Vanceboro Quarry for public comment.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (DWR) reminds the public to avoid contact with discolored water that could indicate the presence of an algal bloom. 

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

The North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a public hearing on Nov. 5 to hear public comment on a proposed rule change that would allow domestic wastewater discharges to zero-flow streams.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) issued a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA)/Dredge and Fill Law permit for the Mid-Currituck Bridge. In a separate action, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) issued a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for the bridge, a proposed 6.7-mile, two-lane toll road and bridge that would connect the mainland in Currituck County to the Outer Banks near Corolla.

After reviewing public comments, the Division of Air Quality issued a Title V air quality permit to Duke Energy Progress, LLC - Novo Nordisk. 

Governor Josh Stein announced today that five western North Carolina counties will receive more than $86 million in funding for 14 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects as part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program for disaster-affected states. North Carolina is the first state impacted by Helene to award grants from this program.