Topics Related to NCDENR

An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Dare County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards
The North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission will meet in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, 27603, on May 10, 2022. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

A virtual option is being provided, and the public may also join the meeting by computer or phone.
The N.C. Source Water Collaborative, a statewide drinking water protection group, has announced the winners of an annual awards program recognizing individuals and organizations that protect sources of public drinking water.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) has issued a mining permit for the Hood Creek Soils mining operation, covering 24 acres in Caldwell County.
The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries is asking anglers for help with data collection.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources is holding two public meetings this week on draft Animal Waste Management Digester System General Permits, an in-person public meeting on Tuesday in Statesville and an online meeting (via Webex) on Thursday. Members of the public are invited to attend and submit comments on the draft permits. Spanish interpretation will be provided during the Webex on a call-in line provided below.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on proposed amendments and re-adoption of nine rules under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. The rules are proposed for readoption without changes and pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

A public hearing will be held by web conference on May 4 at 6 p.m. The public may join the meeting online; however, those who wish to comment during the hearing must register to speak by noon on the day of the hearing.
The State Water Infrastructure Authority will meet in Asheboro on Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14. The public may listen to the meeting online or by phone.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Division of Water Resources is holding two additional public meetings in April on draft Animal Waste Management Digester System General Permits. In addition to two held this week in Sampson and Duplin counties, a third meeting will be held in-person and a fourth will be online via Webex. Members of the public are invited to attend and submit comments on the draft permits.
The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras.

During the open season north of Cape Hatteras, the minimum size limit will be 13 inches total length (tip of the snout to the tip of the tail), and the bag limit will be 15 fish per person, per day. The season will close on Dec. 11.