Topics Related to NCDENR

State certifies new state record Speckled Trout

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has certified a new state record speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) that bests a fish that held the title for more than 60 years.

Todd Spangler, of Merritt, caught the 12-pound, 8-ounce fish in the lower Neuse River in Pamlico County on Feb 9. The previous state record speckled trout weighed 12 pounds, 4 ounces and was caught off Wrightsville Beach in 1961.

The International Game Fish Association All Tackle World Record spotted seatrout stands at 17 pounds, 7 ounces, and was caught in 1995 off Ft. Pierce Fla.

State Accepting Applications for Grant Funds to Improve Impaired Waters

The Division of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) is accepting proposals for approximately $1.3 million in federal grant money to address the State’s water bodies most impacted by nonpoint pollution.

N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission to meet February 22

The N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission will meet virtually on Tuesday, February 22, 2022., The meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and the public may join the meeting by computer or phone.

DEQ’s Administration Plan for American Rescue Plan Act’s State Fiscal Recovery Funds Now Available Online

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s administration plan for the approximately $1.6 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery funds for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is now available online.

MEDIA ADVISORY: State Water Infrastructure Authority to Meet Feb. 9 Virtually, via WebEx

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 9:00 a.m., virtually, via WebEx. The public is invited to join the meeting online or by phone.

For virtual attendees who wish to speak during the informal public comment portion of the meeting, please email Jennifer Haynie at jennifer.haynie@ncdenr.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Please include your full name and organization. Please note that any comments will be limited to three minutes each.

DEQ will host Public Meetings on Digester System General Permits in April

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources will hold four public meetings in April on draft Animal Waste Management Digester System General Permits. Three meetings will be in-person and a fourth will be online via Webex. Members of the public are invited to attend and submit comments on the draft permits.

State Accepting Applications for Transit & Shuttle Bus Replacements under Phase 2 of Volkswagen Settlement

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is now accepting applications for the Transit and Shuttle Bus Program grants under Phase 2 of the Volkswagen Mitigation plan.  The Request for Proposal (RFP) released today details how to apply for the $13.5 million available to replace older, diesel transit or shuttle buses with cleaner low emission vehicles to significantly reduce NOx emissions and improve air quality.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Peer review workshop for striped mullet stock assessment scheduled

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a second workshop by webinar Feb. 8-9 with scientists to review the draft assessment of the North Carolina striped mullet stock.

N.C. Oil and Gas Commission to meet on Feb. 8

The North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission will meet virtually on Feb. 8, 2022. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and the public may join the meeting by computer or phone.

Student Winners Announced in Climate Change Art Contest

 

The N.C. Climate Education Network (NCCEN) has selected three winners in a statewide art contest focusing on climate change. More than 60 K-12 students participated creating visual art using 30-year climate graphs and data. The winners are:

Elementary:      Hansithi Teluguntla, Fuller Elementary