This year, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) took key actions to protect the environment and health of all North Carolinians and to address the impacts of climate change.
“The department has made significant strides this year on critical issues that impact North Carolinians, from coal ash and emerging compounds to clean energy and climate change. DEQ continues to lead the way in holding bad actors accountable and in building a clean energy future with economic and environmental benefits for a stronger, more resilient state,” said Secretary Michael S. Regan. “I am proud of the work our staff does on every issue, in every community across the state as we work to protect the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians.”
Key Achievements
- DEQ delivered the North Carolina Clean Energy Plan to guide the state’s transition to a modern electric grid and a clean energy future, as directed in Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 80. Based on an extensive stakeholder process, the plan presents a consensus vision to achieve key goals: reduce electric power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2050; foster long-term energy affordability and price stability for North Carolina’s residents and businesses by modernizing regulatory and planning processes; and accelerate clean energy innovation, development, and deployment to create economic opportunities for both rural and urban areas of the state.
- DEQ ordered Duke Energy to excavate coal ash impoundments to best protect public health and natural resources. After conducting a rigorous scientific review of Duke Energy’s proposals for Allen, Belews, Cliffside/Rogers, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro facilities, and conducting public listening sessions in impacted communities, DEQ determined excavation is the only closure option that meets the requirements of Coal Ash Management Act to best protect public health and natural resources.
- DEQ filed a Consent Order that holds the Chemours Company accountable for PFAS contamination, including GenX, in the Cape Fear Region. The Consent Order requires the company to address all sources of PFAS at the facility to prevent further impacts to air, soil, groundwater and surface water and provide relief to the impacted citizens and communities.
Protecting Our Environment
Stronger permits for animal operations: DEQ issued revised permits to more than 2,100 animal operations that for the first time in more than 20 years are more protective of public health and the environment. Effective Oct. 1, 2019, the revised general permits cover swine, cattle and wet poultry animal operations and include of increased measures to promote transparency in both record-keeping and reporting as well as more stringent requirements for groundwater monitoring.
Opposing Offshore oil drilling and Exploration: Secretary Regan met with a bi-partisan group of coastal leaders who signed a resolution to oppose seismic testing and offshore drilling. In June, The Division of Coastal Management formally objected to a proposed seismic survey by WesternGeco and found it inconsistent with state policies. The review of WesternGeco’s proposal included substantial input from outside subject matter experts, North Carolina state agencies and the public. Based on this review, it was determined that the proposed seismic surveys would have significant adverse impacts on fish and marine food webs, sensitive fish habitats, commercial and recreational fisheries, and the coastal economy.
Supporting Fisheries: The Division of Marine Fisheries and Marine Fisheries Commission took management measures to end overfishing and restore stocks of southern flounder through adoption of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3.
The Division of Marine Fisheries, Marine Fisheries Commission and Wildlife Resources Commission took management measures to protect two year-classes (age groups) of estuarine striped bass in internal waters of the central area of the state. Research has shown that striped bass in the Central Southern Management Area are not a self-sustaining population and that fishermen are mainly catching hatchery-raised fish; however, data suggest there have been two recent naturally spawned year classes.
Governor Cooper signed legislation to promote responsible shellfish aquaculture, authorizing DEQ and the Marine Fisheries Commission to create enterprise areas, improve regulation of shellfish leases and study methods to reduce user conflict.
The Division of Marine Fisheries also completed the Swan Island Oyster Sanctuary, a three-year project to build one of the largest oyster sanctuaries in North Carolina waters. The 60 new acres of oyster habitat at the mouth of the Neuse River supports nearly 50 million oysters with an ability to improve water quality. The $3 million project in partnership with N.C. Coastal Federation was jointly funded with state and federal money, and received an endorsement from the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership, marking it as an example of a successful government/non-government organization partnership.
Infrastructure Investment
Approximately $112 million in loans used for 26 projects statewide, all aimed at improving or replacing North Carolina water and wastewater infrastructure, were approved by the State Water Infrastructure Authority.
The division’s statewide water and wastewater infrastructure master plan continued to receive national recognition; it applies broadly to owners and operators of water and wastewater utilities and systems that serve the public. The state's role is to foster long-term viability in three integrated focus areas: infrastructure management, organizational management and financial management.
Hurricane Response
Hurricane Dorian: The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) offered an emergency general permit to coastal property owners who needed to replace docks, piers, bulkheads or similar structures damaged by Hurricane Dorian along sounds, rivers and creeks. The emergency permit expedited the approval process for rebuilding docks, piers, bulkheads and similar water dependent structures that meet state standards. The emergency permit was also used for dune reconstruction and maintenance dredging of existing channels. The Division of Waste Management (DWM) assisted local solid waste programs – especially on Ocracoke Island – with vast amounts of vegetative and construction-and-demolition waste removal.
Hurricane Florence recovery: The Division of Marine Fisheries provided aid to 1,176 fishermen to help compensate them for income lost due to Hurricane Florence. The Hurricane Florence Commercial Fishing Assistance Program was an $11.6 million assistance program that was part of an overall package of Hurricane Florence relief efforts Gov. Cooper signed into law on December 3, 2018.
Resiliency Efforts
As directed in Executive Order 80, DEQ is leading the effort to develop the state’s Risk and Resiliency Plan along with designees from the other cabinet agencies. By evaluating the impacts of climate change on programs and operations, cabinet agencies will be able to support communities and sectors of the economy that are most vulnerable to climate change and protect the resources and assets of value to North Carolinians.
The Division of Coastal Management hosted coastal resiliency workshops in May to bring together local government staff, elected officials and other local leaders to explore several climate and resiliency topics. DCM also developed a Coastal Adaptation and Resiliency website and a companion Coastal Community Resilience Guide to lead users through resilience planning questions and steps that reference the data, tools and resources that are most relevant to their planning needs. DEQ staff along with partners from the other cabinet agencies led resiliency workshops in the western and piedmont regions to hear from community stakeholders and inform the development of the state’s plan. The plan is due to Governor Cooper on March 31, 2019.
Western Landslides: The landslide hazard mapping project will develop hazard maps of the landslide-prone areas in western North Carolina with mapping ongoing in Polk and Rutherford counties. Secretary Regan spent time in the field with the mapping team. Their work will result in digital maps and a supporting landslide geodatabase that will be accessible to the public. Landslide mapping and research on relationships between wildfires and debris flow also is underway.
Living Shorelines: Working with other state, federal and community organizations, DCM amended a general permit for marsh sills, a type of “living shoreline,” making it an option to people along North Carolina’s coast who want to stabilize estuarine shorelines. The use of living shorelines – an option that uses native materials such as plants and oyster shells – are an alternative to traditional bulkheads and revetments for shoreline stabilization and erosion control in North Carolina’s estuarine areas.
Habitat Protection: The state purchased 2,259 acres of coastal habitat for long-term protection in the DCM’s N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve in 2019. Approximately 2,224 acres of globally imperiled low pocosin habitat were added to the Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve and 35 acres of oceanfront property at Sunset Beach for inclusion in the adjacent Bird Island Coastal Reserve. The inclusion of these acquisitions in the Reserve protects important habitats and species, ensures availability for research, education, and compatible recreation, and enhances coastal resiliency.
Celebrating Stewardship
The department’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative recognized Eaton in Arden and Pfizer in Sanford as Stewards for their outstanding environmental performance, bringing the total number of Stewards to 31. It also welcomed five new members and celebrated one Partner moving to the Rising Steward level and another Partner moving to the Steward level. The program now has 195 total member sites.
The Waste Reduction Partners (WRP) team provided onsite waste reductions and energy efficiency assessments for 127 clients across 43 counties, helping businesses and institutions save $1.17 million in FY2019. The WRP is placing special focus on assisting North Carolina organizations to address climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas through energy efficiency programs.
Grants and Recognitions
- The N.C. Weatherization Assistance Program (NCWAP) awarded grant funds of $128,000 to three organizations that will provide community solar resources for qualified low-income residents. The funding allows NCWAP clients to participate in the community solar programs of these electric utilities.
- DCM awarded more than $1.2 million to 9 local governments to improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for FY2019-20. The awards ranged from $47,000 to $280,000 and included projects such as boardwalks, ADA accessible improvements, ocean access improvements, and land acquisition for new waterfront facilities.
- The Division of Air Quality awarded $667,770 in grants for three projects to reduce air pollution from diesel-powered mobile sources through the 2018 Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program.
- The Division of Waste Management (DWM) awarded $600,000 to 83 county and city governments to support local electronics management programs, which provide residents with opportunities to recycle electronics like televisions and computer equipment, diverting 300 million pounds of electronics from the state’s landfills since 2010.
- The Division of Mitigation Services (DMS), using private mitigation providers, restored or enhanced 109,224 feet of stream, 187 acres of wetlands, and 106 acres of riparian buffer in 2019. These contracts totaled $52,961,566 with $52,757,380 to be paid directly to the private sector. Stream and wetland mitigation projects constructed and closed this year should reduce an estimated 81,039 pounds of Total Nitrogen and 9,849 pounds of Total Phosphorus that enters North Carolina’s streams and waterways each year.
- DMS also continues to be a national leader in the coordination of In-Lieu Fee (ILF) programs and through innovation in the field including developing the use of drone and 360-degree camera technology to provide virtual mitigation tours for regulatory agency project review, providing significant financial savings in time and efficiencies.
- In 2019, 52 educators completed the Office’s Environmental Education Certification Program while 172 individuals enrolled in the program. The certification is a professional development program for both non-formal educators and classroom teachers that requires a commitment of 200 hours of training, teaching, and community leadership.