Press Releases

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold hearings for public comment in February on the plans to excavate coal ash at six Duke Energy facilities. This follows the Dec. 31, 2019 settlement agreement in which Duke Energy agreed to excavate nearly 80 million tons of coal ash at the Allen, Belews Creek, Cliffside, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro sites to be placed in lined, onsite landfills.

The state Division of Coastal Management recently announced the availability of approximately $1 million in funding to help local governments in 20 coastal counties improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access program provides matching funds to local governments to construct low-cost public access facilities.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), on behalf of the state of North Carolina, is proceeding with a letter of intent to obtain ownership of three locks and dams in the Cape Fear River between Wilmington and Fayetteville. The state plans to send the letter of intent by February 28, 2020.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board will meet by teleconference at 10:30 a.m. March 26.  

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open Feb. 1 in federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

The creel limit for recreationally-caught bluefish will decrease on Feb. 1 in North Carolina coastal waters. 

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program, in partnership with the Oregon Inlet Artificial Reef Committee, sank the first of three tugboats off the coast of Pea Island on Monday.  

To: Interested Parties From: Sharon Martin, DEQ Public Affairs Date: January 24, 2020 RE: Secretary Regan’s comments on the Revised Waters of the United States (“WOTUS”) Rule

The N.C. Coastal Resource Commission is extending the public comment period until March 2 for proposed rulemaking intended to update Inland Hazard Area boundaries and associated development rules, including 15A NCAC 07H .0304, 7H .0306, 7H .0309, and 7H .0310. The original comment period began on Dec. 2 and was scheduled to end on Jan. 31.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is extending the public comment period until March 6, on a proposed groundwater corrective action plan to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater and surface water at the Chemours Fayetteville Works Site.