Environmentally Speaking

Meet Byron Toothman, Research Biologist with the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve System

I sat down with Byron Toothman, a North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Research (NCNERR) Biologist, to discover what being a marine scientist is like.

In 2022, DEQ Protected NC’s Environment and Public Health

View the "2022 By the Numbers" Infographic highlighting DEQ's 2022 accomplishments in providing science based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians.

DEQ’s Dam Safety Program receives award from national dam program

North Carolina’s Dam Safety Program recently received the Southeast Regional Award from the Association of Dam Safety Officials for its work protecting North Carolinians.

Small Eastern NC Community "Can't Wait" for DEQ Water Infrastructure Grant

This September, DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser joined Governor Roy Cooper in the community of Ivanhoe in Sampson County to highlight a transformative water infrastructure grant.

Project: No Binders

DEQ has made it easier than ever for North Carolina communities to apply for the financial support they need for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects with a streamlined online application portal.

Modernized, Interactive Recycling Markets Directory Helps Keep Recyclable Materials Out of the Landfill

The Recycling Markets Directory has been relaunched with interactive features to help North Carolina businesses and organizations recycle the material they generate by connecting them with nearby recyclers.

Aviation gives Marine Patrol an eye in the sky

Marine Patrol Pilot Mark Daniels taxied the 2004 Cessna 182 to a runway at Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern.

How to Differentiate Pompano Dolphinfish from Common Dolphinfish

Learn how to tell the difference between Common Dolphinfish and Pompano Dolphinfish.

How the Clean Smokestacks Act breathed new life into NC air quality 20 years ago 

North Carolina is known for encompassing three scenic regions within the state lines.  The presence of the sparkling coast, vast piedmont, and towering mountains contributes to the state’s e

What Salamanders and Lichens Can Teach Us about Air Quality in North Carolina

DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser visits Purchase Knob and learns how salamanders, lichens and other native species respond to improvements in air quality.

Fisheries Director Catches Up with Anglers at Cape Point

Division of Marine Fisheries Director Kathy Rawls put on her fishing boots and went to the beach at Cape Point in Hatteras this week, but she wasn’t trying to hook a fish.

A Ride on the Electric School Bus

When Gov. Roy Cooper in 2017 designated the Department of Environmental Quality as the lead agency to administer the state's share of the Volkswagen settlement mitigation trust funds, I knew we would be embarking on a journey to “do a lot of good."

POPS Goes the Cleaners

The Pavilion on Park Square is the centerpiece of a redevelopment project that turned a former mill site into a state-of-the-art gathering and entertainment area for the Town of Forest City. Known as POPS, the town created this downtown oasis for the community with the help of DEQ’s Brownfields Program and the Dry-Cleaning Solvent Cleanup Act (DSCA) Program.

Winter Air Quality

Have you noticed how fine particulate readings in the morning are often higher than the afternoon during the winter months? This is often due to something called a surface temperature inversion.

Viewing Climate Change through a Creative Lens

Keeping kids engaged. Educators and parents are often tasked with finding creative measures encourage students to be inspired. While climate change and art aren’t generally synonymous, a group of State educators and environmental professionals who formed the N.C.