Press Releases

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has identified nine counties in the Extreme Drought category (D3 category), for the first time since 2017, as part of expanding drought conditions across the state.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of 31 counties as of Nov. 7. Impacted counties range from Cherokee County in the west to Moore County in the east. Severe Drought is the second category of the four drought classifications based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Portions of an additional 39 counties in western North Carolina are considered to be in Moderate Drought category (D1 classification).

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has expanded its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of 15 counties as of Oct. 31.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources will hold a public hearing on December 6 on the adoption of proposed final rules for three grant programs: the Aquatic Weed Control Fund, Coastal Storm Mitigation Fund and the Shallow Draft Navigation Channel Dredging Fund. Comments will also be accepted until Jan. 2, 2024.

North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has introduced its Severe Drought category (D2 classification) for parts of Cleveland, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has honored 72 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2022. The division’s Public Water Supply Section awarded the facilities the prestigious N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh on November 8 and November 9. Members of the public may attend in person or join the meeting by computer or phone.

El Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Carolina del Norte (DEQ, por sus siglas en inglés) tendrá múltiples audiencias públicas como parte del actual período de comentarios de 90 días sobre seis proyectos de permisos generales de Operaciones de Alimentación Animal. Estos permisos generales son para las instalaciones elegibles de ganado porcino, vacuno y aves de corral sin descarga con sistemas de gestión de residuos líquidos y operaciones de alimentación animal con sistemas de digestores agrícolas. Los comentarios públicos recibidos en los eventos y hasta el 3 de noviembre de 2023 se tendrán en cuenta en el desarrollo de los permisos generales que entrarán en vigor en otoño de 2024.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold multiple public hearings as part of its ongoing 90-day comment period on six draft Animal Feeding Operations general permits. These general permits are for eligible non-discharge swine, cattle and poultry facilities with liquid waste management systems and animal feeding operations with farm digester systems. Public input received at the events and through Nov. 3, 2023, will be considered in the development of the general permits which will become effective in Fall 2024.

North Carolina’s 2023 Appropriations Act Session Law 2023-134 includes fee adjustments for 28 Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) programs to support the delivery of services and state employee sa

El Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Carolina del Norte (DEQ, por sus siglas en inglés) tendrá múltiples audiencias públicas como parte del actual período de comentarios de 90 días sobre seis proyectos de permisos generales de Operaciones de Alimentación Animal. Estos permisos generales son para las instalaciones elegibles de ganado porcino, vacuno y aves de corral sin descarga con sistemas de gestión de residuos líquidos y operaciones de alimentación animal con sistemas de digestores agrícolas.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold multiple public hearings as part of its ongoing 90-day comment period on six draft Animal Feeding Operations general permits. These general permits are for eligible non-discharge swine, cattle and poultry facilities with liquid waste management systems and animal feeding operations with farm digester systems. Public input received at the events and through Nov. 3, 2023, will be considered in the development of the general permits which will become effective in Fall 2024.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources continues to monitor a fish kill in the Neuse River, located in an area that includes New Bern near Union Point and Bridgeton, downstream to Riverdale. Fish kills are common and can occur in the summertime, particularly under the conditions present this summer. Although there has been no indication of a chemical or toxin component in conjunction with the fish kill, residents should always avoid water where a fish kill is present.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) has issued a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit NC0026123 to the City of Asheboro, located in Randolph County.

El Departamento de Calidad Ambiental de Carolina del Norte (DEQ, por sus siglas en ingles) tendrá múltiples audiencias públicas y un período de comentarios de 90 días sobre seis proyectos de permisos generales de Operaciones de Alimentación Animal. Estos permisos generales son para las instalaciones elegibles de ganado porcino, vacuno y aves de corral sin descarga con sistemas de gestión de residuos líquidos y operaciones de alimentación animal con sistemas de digestores agrícolas. Los comentarios públicos recibidos en los eventos y hasta el 3 de noviembre de 2023 se tendrán en cuenta en el desarrollo de los permisos generales que entrarán en vigor en otoño de 2024.