Press Releases

DEQ’s Division of Air Quality is reminding North Carolinians: If it doesn’t grow, don’t burn it. The open burning rule limits what can be burned outdoors and when.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has opened the 2026 application period for the state’s Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program. Individuals interested in leasing public coastal waters to cultivate shellfish may submit applications through Aug. 1, 2026.

Today Governor Josh Stein and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson visited Cape Fear Public Utility Authority's Sweeney Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington to announce $17 million in grants to protect families from forever chemicals like PFAS and GenX in their drinking water. The funds will be used to extend waterlines to connect more than 300 homes with contaminated wells to CFPUA's supply of safe drinking water. This funding follows the Governor's recent announcement of more than $472 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across 66 counties

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and Matt Calabria, Director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), traveled to Lady Marian Dam in McDowell County today to highlight the Department’s recent awards of $7.3 million to address at-risk dams that were damaged by Hurricane Helene. 

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has updated freezer sites for collecting 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. Mining Commission will meet on March 10 in Raleigh for its regular quarterly meeting.

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 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.