Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today filed a proposed Consent Order for entry by the Mecklenburg County Superior Court to hold Colonial Pipeline accountable as the responsible party in the state’s largest gasoline spill. The Consent Order, if approved by the court, would require Colonial to take specific remedial actions and pay nearly $5 million related to the August 2020 fuel release in the Oehler Nature Preserve near Huntersville.

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has issued digester system general permits for qualified animal feeding operations. The general digester permits were developed following a comprehensive stakeholder and public engagement process and thorough review of public comments. These general permits are in effect through September 2024.

An advisory against swimming was posted today at an ocean-side site in Brunswick County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting proposals for the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program for federal fiscal year 2023.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding potential shellfish lease applicants that the 2022 application period ends Aug. 1.

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office are urging the public to act responsibly during the upcoming July Fourth holiday at the Masonboro Island Reserve, a research reserve and dedicated state nature preserve. In preparation for the holiday, the state coastal agency and the sheriff’s office are working together to provide public safety resources and increase public awareness of responsible visitor behavior on the island.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has launched a new interactive mapping tool to assist the public with finding and using maps associated with rules.

Fifteen lucky participants won $100 each in a yearly drawing held by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Multi-Species Tagging Program.

The Stormwater Committee of the State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet Thursday, June 23 at 2:00 p.m. by teleconference. The public may listen to the meeting online or by phone.