Press Releases

Chris Lee pinned as new Marine Patrol Colonel

Chris Lee was formally pinned during a ceremony today as the new Colonel of the N.C. Marine Patrol, the top law enforcement officer at the Division of Marine Fisheries.

UPDATED: N.C. Environmental Management Commission to meet Jan. 7-8

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet Jan. 7-8 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

State review period extended to mid-January 2026 for Wilmington Harbor 403 Dredging Project

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has been granted additional time by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to complete its review of a federal request to deepen and widen the Wilmington Harbor, extending the decision deadline from Jan. 5, 2026, to Jan. 19, 2026.

REMINDER: Division of Coastal Management offers guidance for recycling natural Christmas trees for dune restoration

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is providing guidance to property owners, organizations and towns that plan to accept natural Christmas trees for use in dune restoration.

DEQ offers Underground Storage Tank online applications

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has launched an online application form for Underground Storage Tank (UST) permits for newly constructed facilities.

N.C. Environmental Management Commission to meet Jan. 7-8

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet Jan. 7-8 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committees to meet Jan. 14

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will meet jointly on Jan. 14, 2026, at 3 p.m. via WebEx.

NCDEQ Division of Water Resources issues water quality certification with conditions for Transco’s proposed natural gas pipeline project

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) has issued a water quality certification with conditions to strengthen protections for wetlands, waterways and streambanks impacted by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s (Transco’s) proposed expansion of a natural gas pipeline.

NC air quality has vastly improved since ‘90s, DEQ report shows

The latest update to DEQ's “Air Quality Trends in North Carolina” report shows emissions of harmful air pollutants like ozone and fine particles continue a long-running downward trend.

DEQ modifies air quality permit for Domtar Paper Co.

After reviewing public comments, the Division of Air Quality issued a modified Title V air quality permit to Domtar Paper Co. in Martin County.