Press Releases

Newly amended rules pertaining to coastal recreational water quality monitoring to protect the public health of swimmers go into effect today. The rules, readopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission in November 2020 under a state-mandated periodic review schedule, include changes to 15A NCAC 18A .3400. Rules .3401, .3402, .3403, and .3405:

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) has approved permit modification requests to install anaerobic digesters at four animal feeding operations participating in a biogas processing project with Align RNG, LLC.  After extensive review of the applications and consideration of community concerns, DWR added additional sampling conditions and site-specific changes to the best management practices.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted today to amend the previously adopted sector allocations for Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan to gradually equalize allocations between the commercial and recreational fisheries.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has assessed $199,379.16 in penalties in the recent enforcement actions against Chemours for failing to meet conditions of the Consent Order and violations related to the construction and installation of the required treatment measures at Old Outfall 002 and Seep C.

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management (DWM) will host a public hearing on Tuesday, May 4, on a draft solid waste permit for the first of three new landfills at the Allen Steam Station. The draft permit will include Duke Energy’s construction and operation of the first new landfill (called the North Starter Landfill) for the disposal of excavated coal ash at the Allen Steam Station. Members of the public are invited to attend the public hearing online or by phone and provide their comments on the proposed permit.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will host a digital public hearing on Tuesday, May 4 on a draft renewal permit for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) Title V air permit. The public is invited to attend the hearing online or by phone provide their comments on the proposed permit. DAQ will also accept comments on the draft permit through May 6.

New recreational bag limits for spot and Atlantic croaker will take effect April 15, and commercial spot and Atlantic croaker seasons will close beginning in December.

The main phone number for the Elizabeth City office of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has changed.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Recycling Program recently provided $492,937 in recycling business development grants to 16 North Carolina recycling companies. The grants are projected to create 108 new jobs and generate more than $1.3 million in new, private business investments while reducing the state’s dependence on landfill disposal.

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) and Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (DA&CS) are alerting citizens who recently purchased aquarium plants. Specifically, moss balls, an aquatic plant used in home aquariums, were found to be contaminated with an invasive and potentially destructive, fresh water species called zebra mussels.