Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint program (Blueprint) will hold a public information session on March 25 at 6 p.m. to provide an overview of the state’s science-based and stakeholder-driven flood mitigation planning initiative. Members of the public are invited to attend virtually via Webex. 

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) has released a request for proposals (RFP) for community-based engagement and stewardship projects in the APNEP region.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect Gulf Flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 spring season, held March 9-22 in ocean waters from Portsmouth Island to the South Carolina line. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding fishermen that Sheepshead regulations will change for both recreational and commercial fisheries beginning March 1. The Division is implementing changes because of increases in sheepshead harvest, particularly juvenile fish, in recent years.

March 1 marks the beginning of the 2026 ozone season as state and local environmental agencies restart their daily air quality forecasts for ozone across North Carolina.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will meet March 11-12 on the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting by computer or phone. 

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has completed its review of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) Federal Consistency Determination and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Wilmington Harbor Section 403 Navigation Improvement Project. DCM has objected to the Corps’ Consistency Determination because the 403 Proposal and supporting documentation did not supply sufficient information about PFAS, flooding, and placement of dredged material to allow DCM to adequately evaluate consistency with North Carolina’

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) have taken additional legal measures to ensure an unpermitted Mitchell County mine site is properly returned to a safe and stable condition.

DEQ's updated North Carolina greenhouse gas inventory shows declines in emissions since 2005 and projects a slight uptick in the coming years.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission took a step toward state management of Atlantic Bonito, including a five-fish recreational bag limit in draft rule language. The vote occurred at the Commission’s quarterly business meeting this week.