Press Releases

State Water Infrastructure Authority to meet Dec. 9 via teleconference

The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 9:00 a.m., remotely, via teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting by phone.

Online public information meeting to be held December 15 about expanded asbestos sampling in Davidson

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and Town of Davidson, will co-host an online public information meeting on December 15 to discuss the results and next steps following recent expanded soil sampling for asbestos within one-quarter mile of the former Carolina Asbestos Corporation site in Davidson.

Circle hooks will be required for recreational striped bass fishing in ocean beginning Jan. 1

Recreational anglers will be required to use circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with natural bait in coastal ocean waters beginning Jan. 1, 2021. 

Environmental Justice Goals in Andrea Harris Task Force First Biannual Report to Governor Cooper

The Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force Wednesday released its first biannual report outlining policy recommendations to address disparities in communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.  The Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee provided recommendations to increase the consideration of environmental justice and equity concerns in state decision-making and address environmental and economic impacts in disadvantaged communities.

REMINDER: North Carolina Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board to Meet December 7

The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet on Monday, December 7, via WebEx, to discuss challenges and regulations on PFAS mixtures and to continue its discussion on hexavalent chromium.

REMINDER: Coastal Reserve to hold local advisory committee meetings by web conference in December

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold local advisory committee meetings by web conference December 1-11, 2020. The public may join the meetings online or by phone.

DEMLR issues permit for Alamance Aggregates Mine

The North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) has issued a mining permit for Alamance Aggregates LLC to operate a mine in Snow Camp, NC. Following DEMLR’s review of input from the public, the final permit includes additional control measures to safeguard public health and the environment.

DEQ Sets Public Hearing Date and Accepts Public Comments for Blue Ridge Paper Products Proposed Wastewater Permit Modifications and Variance Removal

The Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct an online public hearing Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 6:00 PM to review proposed amendments to the Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC’s (d/b/a Evergreen Packaging) effluent discharge permit.

Public Comment Period Extended for Special Order by Consent at City of Greensboro’s Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has extended the public comment period to noon on Monday, December 14, for the proposed 

State Water Infrastructure Authority Adopts Distressed Unit Assessment and Identification Criteria

At its November meeting last week, the State Water Infrastructure Authority adopted distressed unit criteria and identified and designated four local government units as distressed, an important first step in allocating $9 million in funding made available through recent Viable Utility Reserve legislation, Session Law 2020-79, signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper July 1, 2020.