Press Releases

Three N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites are open to visitors after closure due to Hurricane Dorian. These include:

RALEIGH – The Department of Environmental Quality’s Fayetteville Regional Office will be closed Friday,

Additional offices that will be closed Friday:

Some Department of Environmental Quality offices will close due to forecasted impacts of Hurricane Dorian. The Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office closed at noon today and will remain closed Thursday and Friday.

All coastal waters in North Carolina will temporarily close to shellfish harvest at sunrise Thursday. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is temporarily closing state shellfish waters due to the impending impacts of Hurricane Dorian.

The sites of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will close to visitors at dusk today until further notice due to the threat of damage from Hurricane Dorian and to protect public safety from the potential risk of downed trees, flooding and other hazards.

State recreational water quality officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in all coastal waters of North Carolina following Hurricane Dorian. Residents and visitors should avoid swimming in all coastal waters until testing indicates bacteria levels meet state and federal standards.

State officials will host a public hearing September 5 in Cashiers to gather comments on a water quality certification for Cashiers Canoe Club Development, LLC.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comment through September 18 on the draft Public Participation Plan and draft Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan.

North Carolina’s Clean Energy Plan lays out a path for the state to become a leader in clean energy innovation, with goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create economic opportunities and foster affordability. After a robust, statewide stakeholder process, the draft of the plan is now available for public comment.   

One of the goals at Camp Lejeune’s Gottschalk Marina is to always do its best.

The 64-slip marina at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune exclusively serves those connected with the military.

“These men and women go out every day and do their best for us, and I figure the least we can do is do the best for them and their families while we help protect the environment,” said Marina Manager Sammy Landrum.

In keeping with this motto, Gottschalk Marina has set the bar for other marinas by becoming the first Department of Defense facility in North Carolina to receive certification as a Clean Marina.