Press Releases

REMINDER: State coastal commission to meet in Beaufort Aug. 27-28; Coastal Resources Advisory Council to meet Aug. 27

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet Aug. 27 and 28 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The regular business meeting of the CRC will be called to order at 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 and will resume at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28. An in-person public comment period is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 27. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to 3 minutes per person. The public may attend the CRC meeting in-person or watch online. The Coastal Resources Advisory Council will meet in-person only Aug. 27, at 1 p.m. at the same location.

Precautionary swimming advisory lifted for most sound-side sites after Tropical Storm Debby

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials have now lifted the precautionary against swimming issued due to Tropical Storm Debby for all but eight locations.

NCDEQ Division of Water Resources advises the public to avoid agal bloom in Chowan River

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) advises the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in parts of the Chowan River in Chowan and Bertie counties due to an algal bloom that has lingered in the area since Aug. 16. The bloom has been observed from near the community of Rockyhock to below the U.S. 17 bridge over the Chowan River near Edenton.

DAQ Issues Air Quality Permit to Terra-Mulch Products

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a Title V air quality permit to Terra-Mulch Products, LLC in Catawba County.

REMINDER: Extended comment period for NOAA’s Proposed Rule to Amend the NARW Vessel Strike Reduction Rule ends Aug. 31

The comment period for review of a federal consistency submission from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources proposing amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule (“speed rule”) ends Aug. 31. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management will accept written comments on the proposal until 5 p.m.

REMINDER: DEQ to Give Update Today on Fine Particle Air Pollution in North Carolina

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) invites residents to hear updates on fine particulate matter air pollution in North Carolina.

From Sound to Satellite: New Red Drum Tagging Study Launches in Pamlico Sound

As North Carolina’s state saltwater fish, the Red Drum is not only a popular target for anglers but also a species of significant economic importance. While annual data supports these claims, several key questions remain unanswered: Where do Red Drum spawn? How far do they travel? How often do they pass through the ocean inlets, and do they head north to Virginia or make their way beyond South Carolina?

State coastal commission to meet in Beaufort Aug. 27-28; Coastal Resources Advisory Council to meet Aug. 27

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will meet Aug. 27 and 28 at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort. The regular business meeting of the CRC will be called to order at 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 and will resume at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28. An in-person public comment period is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 27. At the chair’s discretion, comments may be limited to 3 minutes per person. The public may attend the CRC meeting in-person or watch online. The Coastal Resources Advisory Council will meet in-person only Aug. 27, at 1 p.m. at the same location.

DEQ Reminds Residents, Businesses that Burning Trash is Against State Law

RALEIGH – The open burning of trash, metal, plastic and all other man-made materials not only harms the environment and poses a public health risk, it’s against state law.

Precautionary swimming advisory lifted for most ocean-side sites after Tropical Storm Debby

State officials today lifted the precautionary advisory against swimming issued due to Tropical Storm Debby for all but two ocean-side sites. All sound-side areas remain under advisory.