The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will host a public meeting on Oct. 4 in Greenville to obtain input on the state’s draft swine waste management system general permit (AWG100000), which nearly all North Carolina hog farms are required to comply with. Information shared at the event will include a summary of a technical workgroup session held earlier that day. Community feedback obtained through the meeting will assist environmental regulators in preparing a final draft permit which will be published for public review early next year.
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Officials with the N.C. Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board are asking the public for input on a report that will provide recommendations on a reference dose to be used to establish water quality standards, as well as recommendations on the derivation and calculation of the health goal for GenX. The draft report is the culmination of extensive research and deliberations by the board, which provides guidance to the state departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services as the agencies work to address emerging compounds statewide.
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified two state record fish, one establishing a state record for a gray snapper and the other breaking the record for a gag grouper.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality received the Special Achievement in GIS award from geographic information system provider Earth Science Research Institute (ESRI) because of its innovative application of mapping, data analytics and leadership in the field of environmental protection.
The N.C. Division of Air Quality will accept public comment on a draft permit for Roxboro Steam Electric Plant from August 22 until September 21, 2018. Duke Energy Progress, LLC has applied for a renewal of Air Quality Title V Operation Permit 01001T54 for the Roxboro Steam Electric Plant at 1700 Dunnaway Road, Semora, Person County, NC.
North Carolina has submitted its plan for the state’s $92 million share of a national settlement with Volkswagen for unlawfully cheating on vehicle emissions. The Volkswagen Mitigation Plan details how the state will invest the first 33% of the funds in Phase 1 on projects to significantly reduce NOx emissions and improve air quality.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will host a public hearing at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 to obtain community feedback on a draft wastewater permit and draft special order by consent for Duke Energy’s Asheville Steam Electric Plant. The draft wastewater permit is a modification to the plant’s existing permit, while the special order by consent was requested by the company to address issues related to coal ash basin seeps at the facility.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality will host a public information session on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The session will include updates on the state’s ongoing activities related to the GenX investigation that originated at Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, has announced its intent to develop an environmental impact statement and the opening of a public comment period for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate project. These actions are part of the federally mandated scoping process which will help the agency determine whether the project is in the public convenience and a necessity, and what the environmental impacts would be along the pipeline route.
The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet in Raleigh on Monday to discuss the board’s GenX report and trichloroethylene vapor intrusion and action levels, among other topics. The meeting will also include a presentation on hexavalent chromium from Health Canada, the Canadian government agency which oversees national public health programs, research and initiatives. The full agenda is available online at: https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/GenX/SAB/SAB-Agenda-082018.pdf.