Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2025 season, held Sept. 1-14. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary advisory for ocean waters along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The action was taken because bacteria levels in water samples meet state and federal standards for swimming and water play. A federal beachfront closure remains in effect.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has awarded more than $2.25 million in grants to fund 10 projects that will expand and improve public access to the state’s treasured beaches and coastal waterways.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 at the Tryon Palace - History Center, 529 S. Front St., New Bern. The regular business meeting of the CRC will be called to order at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 and will resume at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28. A public input and comment period is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Aug. 27. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to 3 minutes per person. The public may attend the CRC meeting in person or join online.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (“Division”) has denied a mining permit application from Horizon 30 LLC in accordance with the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971.

MOREHEAD CITY – An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Dare County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

North Carolinians can breathe easy knowing our state has met every federal health-based air quality standard for a full decade, bringing tremendous benefits to the state’s health and economy.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries today announced the 2025 commercial flounder season opening dates for Internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.

The Buxton Woods Reserve site of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve is now open to visitors after closing Aug. 18 due to the threat of damage from Hurricane Erin, and to protect public safety from the potential risk of downed trees, flooding and other hazards.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission increased this year’s flounder allocation for the recreational fishery at its business meeting this week, adopting Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today issued a precautionary advisory warning the public against swimming in ocean waters in and between the Villages of Rodanthe, Buxton and Hatteras along Highway 12 on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

La División de Recursos Hídricos (DWR) del Departamento de Calidad Medioambiental de Carolina del Norte celebrará audiencias públicas los días 2 y 4 de septiembre para aceptar comentarios del público sobre los impactos en la calidad del agua de Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC (Transco), conocido como Proyecto de Mejora del Suministro del Sureste.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold public hearings on Sept. 2 and Sept. 4 in order to accept public comments on water quality impacts from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s (Transco) proposed natural gas pipeline project, known as the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a public hearing on Sept. 25 in order to hear public comment on a proposed amendment to rules that define the scope of parameters that can be certified by the DWR Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch (WW/GW LCB).