The state marine fisheries agency will hold a public hearing on a proposed shellfish/water column lease in New Hanover County at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Street, Wilmington.
Keith Walls of Wilmington has applied to lease about 2 acres of bottom and water column in Middle Sound, behind Figure Eight Island, for a shellfish aquaculture operation.
The public may comment on the proposed lease at the meeting or in writing until 5 p.m. on Sept. 6. Written comments should be submitted to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.
The application file and biologist report for this proposed lease are available for inspection weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters Office, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.
For more information, contact Valerie Wunderly, shellfish mapping and lease coordinator, at 252-808-8061 or Valerie.Wunderly@ncdenr.gov.