Press Releases

The recreational black sea bass fishery will close Tuesday, Dec. 1 in all coastal waters north of Cape Hatteras.

The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) will select up to 20 municipal and county governments throughout the 20 coastal counties of North Carolina to receive no-cost direct technical assistance services to complete Phases 1 and 2 of the N.C.  Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). These phases will include community engagement, a risk and vulnerability assessment, and development of a portfolio of resilience projects and actions to integrate within existing local planning initiatives.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are developing Amendment 2 to the N.C. Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public scoping period Nov. 2-15, 2020 to solicit public comments on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendment.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board will hold its meeting Monday, November 23, remotely via teleconference. The public is invited to listen to the meeting online or by phone.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory for a sound-side swimming area in Beaufort County.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will hold a public hearing on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. by web conference to consider amendments to 15A NCAC 07H .0304 AECs within Ocean Hazard Areas and 15A NCAC 07H .0312 Technical Standards for Beach Fill Projects. The public may join the meeting online.

The Viable Utility Reserve Committee of the State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Friday, Oct. 30 at 10:00 a.m., remotely, via teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting by phone.

RALEIGH – After a thorough review and public participation process, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has approved the closure plan detailing the excavation of coal ash impoundments at the Allen Steam Station located in Belmont. DEQ has determined that the closure plan meets the requirements of the Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) and is protective of public health and the environment.

Advisories against swimming were posted today at two sound-side sites in Beaufort County where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in Dare County.