Press Releases

N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) advises the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in Lake Norman due to an algal bloom that has lingered in the area since early September. The bloom has been observed throughout Lake Norman. Counties currently affected include Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg. Algal blooms tend to move due to wind and wave action.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will hold a special meeting Oct. 28 by web conference to review comments and consider the adoption of temporary rules. The meeting will be limited to this one agenda item. Members of the public may join by computer or phone.

La Comisión de Gestión Ambiental (EMC) está aceptando comentarios públicos sobre las normas propuestas para tres sustancias perfluoroalquiladas (PFAS) en aguas subterráneas entre el 1 de noviembre y el 31 de diciembre. La EMC y el Departamento de Calidad Ambiental (DEQ) celebrarán tres audiencias en noviembre y diciembre para recibir comentarios del público. Estas normas propuestas complementan las normas federales de agua potable al reducir la entrada de PFAS a las fuentes de agua potable y abordar la contaminación pasada. Se están proponiendo normas para PFOS, PFOA y GenX.

The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is accepting public comments on proposed standards for three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31. The EMC and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold three hearings in November and December to receive public comment.

The Finfish Advisory Committee of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office. The meeting will also be livestreamed to YouTube.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is offering initial emergency loans to 20 local governments for emergency projects to rehabilitate drinking water and/or wastewater systems in response to damages caused by Hurricane Helene.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) today released the 2024 Sea Level Rise Science Update. This report has been written by the members of the CRC’s Science Panel as a public service in response to a charge from the CRC in 2022 to conduct an annual review of any new and significant scientific literature and studies that address the range of implications of sea level rise at the State, sub-regional and local scale.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources will hold a public hearing on Nov. 19, 2024, at Beaufort County Community College to hear public comment on a proposed renewal of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for Vanceboro Quarry (NC0089168), owned by Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted two swimming advisories in Dare County.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in New Hanover County.

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted water quality swimming advisories at two sound-side sites in Carteret County.

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold fall local advisory committee meetings between November 8 - Nov. 20 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Dare County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The hearing will be held in-person at the Dare County Government Center, 926 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo and by Webex.