Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has launched the Western NC Recovery Grants Program to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene rebuild and secure long-term recovery funding. The program provides free grant-writing and technical assistance to towns, counties, councils of government and eligible nonprofits across the 39 federally declared disaster counties in western North Carolina and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Today’s the day! Recreational fishermen must now report the harvest of Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, Weakfish and flounder, while those fishing commercially must report all harvest, even if that harvest is not sold. This requirement only applies to fish that are kept, not fish that are released.

The Master Plan Update Committee of the State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 10 am - 12 pm. The public may listen to the meeting online or by phone.

Officials from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) along with local, state, federal leaders and community partners, toured key sites across the Outer Banks this week to highlight ongoing coastal resilience projects and discuss strategies to address the region’s growing climate and flooding challenges. DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson was on hand to talk to local officials and tour damage at three sites of concern in Rodanthe and Buxton, where oceanfront homes have fallen into the ocean and additional structures are threatened, and at the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS).

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Carteret County at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. The hearing will be held in-person at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Hwy 70 W, Morehead City, and by Webex.

La Comisión de Gestión Ambiental de Carolina del Norte y la División de Recursos Hídricos del Departamento de Calidad Ambiental (NCDEQ) celebrarán audiencias públicas los días 4, 9 y 11 de diciembre para escuchar comentarios sobre el borrador de la declaración de impacto ambiental que acompaña a la solicitud de la ciudad de Fuquay-Varina para obtener un certificado de transferencia entre cuencas.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources will hold public hearings on Dec. 4, 9 and 11 to hear public comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Town of Fuquay-Varina's Interbasin Transfer Certificate request. 

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) continues to accept public comments through Dec. 20 on the review of a federal request to deepen and widen the Wilmington Harbor. The comment period for reviewing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District’s federal consistency determination for the proposed Wilmington Harbor 403 Navigation Project, pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, was originally open through Dec. 5.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission held its quarterly business meeting this week, where members received key updates from the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries staff and took action on scheduled administrative items.