Press Releases

Water quality swimming advisory lifted for sound-side site in New Hanover County

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in New Hanover County.

DEQ Establishes Interim Groundwater Limits for PFAS

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has established interim maximum allowable concentrations, or IMACs, for eight per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater.   

N.C. Coastal Reserve to hold fall local advisory committee meetings

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold fall local advisory committee meetings between November 8 - Nov. 20 for the following reserve sites. All meetings are open to the public.

DEQ to Hold Public Hearings on Air Quality Permits for Coal Replacement Projects at 2 Duke Energy Facilities

 The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) invites the public to provide comment on two draft air quality permit revisions for Duke Energy. 

Public hearing scheduled for proposed shellfish leases in Dare County

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in Dare County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The hearing will be held in-person at the Dare County Government Center, 926 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo and by Webex.

State Increases Reporting Requirements in Final Air Quality Permit to Moriah Energy Center

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued an air quality permit to Moriah Energy Center, adding stronger reporting requirements to the final permit in response to public comments.

Broad River Basin Plan public comment period extended through Nov. 22

Due to the impacts Hurricane Helene has had on several of the river basins in Western North Carolina, the public comment period for the 2024 Broad River Basin Plan has been extended to November 22, 2024.

New Endangered Species Act Section 10 Incidental Take Permit issued by National Marine Fisheries Service for Sea Turtles and Sturgeon

The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has received a new Endangered Species Act Section 10 Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ITP authorizes a limited number of incidental takes of sea turtles and sturgeon in internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters for estuarine gill net fisheries with the exceptions of runaround/strike/drop and drift gill nets.

Habitat and Water Quality Committee to meet Oct. 16

The Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Oct.16 at 6 p.m. at the Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office. Also, the meeting will be livestreamed to YouTube.

Water quality swimming advisory lifted for sound-side site in New Hanover County

MOREHEAD CITY – State recreational water quality officials today lifted a water quality swimming advisory at a sound-side site in New Hanover County.