Public Information Contacts
DEQ’s public information officers, or PIOs, assist residents, stakeholders and media representatives with information and public records requests. Our PIOs will help answer your questions or direct a complaint to the appropriate staff.
Email DEQ Public Affairs
To request public records, simply contact the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the related division. If you aren’t sure which division holds the records you are interested in, any of the PIOs can help direct your request to the appropriate division.
Email DEQ Public Records
Public Information Officers listed by Division
Public Information Officer for the Division of Air Quality: Shawn Taylor, Office Phone Number: (919) 707-8446
- Air permits and rules
- Motor vehicle emissions and inspection program
- Odor issues
- Air quality forecasts, including ozone, particulate matter and pollen
- Air Awareness education programs
Public Information Officer for the Division of Coastal Management: Christy Simmons, Office Phone Number: (252) 515- 5409.
- Permitting for Coastal Development
- Sea Level Rise
- Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change
- Clean Marinas
- Living Shorelines
- Coastal Land Use Planning
- Coastal Reserve Areas
- Coastal Resources Commission
- Grant Funding for Beach Access and Local Planning
Public Information Officer for the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources: Kat Russell, Office Phone Number: (919) 707-9237
Public Information Officer for the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service: Vacant as of 1/31 Contact the DEQ Public Affairs Team
Public Information Officer for the Division of Marine Fisheries: Patricia Smith, Office Phone Number: (252) 515- 5528
Hot Topics:
- Shellfish Leases
- Striped Bass
- Flounder
- Crab
- Shrimp Petition for Rulemaking
- Spotted Seatrout
General Interest:
- Saltwater Fishing Regulations
- Saltwater Recreational Fishing
- Commercial Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing Licenses
- Commercial Fishing Licenses
- Shellfish Leases
- Oyster Sanctuaries
- Artificial Reefs
- Coastal Recreational Fishing License Grants
- Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Grants
- Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG)
- N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament (Citation Program)
- Fisheries Management
- Marine Patrol
- Marine Fisheries Commission
- Coastal Habitat Protection Plan
- Gill nets
- Trawl nets
- Ocean fishing piers
- Fishery Reform Act
- Sea turtle interactions with fishing gear
- Marine mammal strandings
- Coastal Swimming Advisories
- Shellfish closures
- Shellfish sanitation
Public Information Officer for the Division of Mitigation Services: Sharon Martin, Office Phone Number: 919-707-8670
- In-Lieu Fee Mitigation
- Flood Resiliency Blueprint
- Natural Infrastructure Program
Public Information Officer for the Division of Waste Management: Vacant as of 1/31/24
Contact the DEQ Public Affairs Team
- Emerging Compounds
- Coal Ash
- Coal Ash Structural Fills
- Landfills
- Pre-regulatory Landfills
- Aboveground Storage Tanks
- Brownfields
- Compost
- Disaster Debris
- Dry-Cleaning
- Electronics
- Hazardous Waste
- Inactive Hazardous Sites
- Medical Waste
- Mercury Switch
- Oil Terminal
- Petroleum Releases
- Non-UST Petroleum Releases
- Scrap Tires
- Septage
- Solid Waste
- Superfund
- Underground Storage Tanks
Public Information Officer for the Division of Water Infrastructure: Cathy Akroyd, Office Phone Number: (919) 707-9187
- State Water Infrastructure Authority
- Statewide Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Master Plan
- Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund
- Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
- State Wastewater and Drinking Water Reserve Programs
- Asset and Inventory Assessment Grant Program
- Merger/ Regionalization Feasibility Grant Program
Public Information Officer for the Division of Water Resources: Laura Oleniacz, Office Phone Number: (919) 707-8604
Public Information Officer for the State Energy Office: Vacant, contact the DEQ Public Affairs Team or Josh Kastrinsky
- Energy Efficiency
- Weatherization
- Clean Energy
- Energy Workforce Development
- Energy Assurance
Deputy Secretary for Public Affairs: Sharon Martin, Office Phone Number: 919-707-8670
Deputy Communications Director: Josh Kastrinsky, Office Phone Number: (919) 707-3645