Press Releases

RALEIGH – The public hearing scheduled for the issuance of a hazardous waste draft renewal operating permit for the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 11, in Courtroom C at the Pasquotank County Courthouse, based on public health guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. A new comment period will be re-established at a future date. Comments may still be submitted at this time and will be considered along with any future comments.

RALEIGH – The public hearing scheduled for the issuance of a hazardous waste renewal permit for corrective action at the former DuPont Brevard facility on Wednesday, April 8, at the Transylvania County Public Library has been canceled based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. The former facility is located in Cedar Mountain in Transylvania County. A new comment period will be re-established at a future date. Comments may still be submitted at this time and will be considered along with any future comments.

During the current public health crisis, DEQ continues to protect air quality, water quality and human health under all state environmental rules and regulations.

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries offices are closed to the public until further notice, based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

The Division of Air Quality is further extending the public comment period until April 27 on the draft air permit for the proposed Active Energy Renewable Power facility in Lumberton.  

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.

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.

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.

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

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.