Press Releases

Today, the Administrative Law Judge presiding over the Duke Energy appeal of the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) coal ash closure decisions issued a significant ruling in favor of DEQ.  The ALJ affirmed that DEQ had proper legal authority to elect the closure option for each coal ash impoundment.  The ALJ’s decision to grant DEQ’s partial motion to dismiss will limit the scope of the appeal as it moves forward.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary swimming advisory along the waterfront in Swansboro.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources (DEMLR) and the Sedimentation Control Commission will host a public hearing on Thursday, August 1, to receive public comments and review the rules codified in 15A NCAC 04. 

As Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) trustees, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are seeking the public’s input on the draft restoration plan and environmental assessment related to the 2014 Dan River coal ash spill. The draft restoration plan considers projects to restore damaged natural resources or replace resource services lost as a result of the spill. The NRDAR process is separate from closure and cleanup activities.

RALEIGH – The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board meeting scheduled for Aug. 5 has been cancelled while the board continues its review of the hexavalent chromium science. The next meeting will be Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. More information, including an agenda, will be available online at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation/secretaries-science-advisory-board.

Governor Cooper announced the State Water Infrastructure Authority has approved $112 million in loans that will help North Carolina communities pay for 26 much-needed drinking water and wastewater projects statewide, from Murphy to Manteo.

State recreational water quality officials today issued a precautionary advisory warning the public against swimming along the waterfront in Swansboro between the White Oak River Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway beacon #49.

Oriental Harbor Marina has something to brag about. It is the newest facility certified as a North Carolina Clean Marina, a designation given to marinas that exceed minimum regulatory requirements.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a public meeting and public hearing on Tuesday, August 20, on a draft permit for Enviva Pellets Northampton, LLC

The state has purchased 2,224 acres in Tyrrell County to be added to the Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve.