Donald van der Vaart, the former Department of Environmental Quality secretary under Gov. Pat McCrory, has resigned from his position in DEQ’s Division of Air Quality after being put on suspension.
Archives
Willis: Climate Change Threatens Economy
Rachel Willis, a UNC professor in the American Studies department, is an advocate for the world’s transportation infrastructure to work with, not against, climate change and sea level rise.
Harkers Island To Celebrate Heritage, Decoys
An exciting weekend is ahead on Harkers Island with the 30th annual Core Sound Decoy Festival at the elementary school and the annual Waterfowl Weekend at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center.
Shorebird Banded 17 Years Ago Brings Hope
The recent recapture of an American oystercatcher at Masonboro Island, one banded 17 years ago in Georgia, was cause for celebration among groups working to help the species recover.
State Seeks Input on VW Settlement Funds
The state received $92 million in Volkswagen settlement funds to reduce air pollution from mobile sources and is looking for public input on how the funds should be invested.
New Data Show High GenX Concentrations
Department of Environmental Quality announced Wednesday that concentrations of GenX at Chemours’ wastewater discharge outfall in Fayetteville recently exceeded the state’s provisional drinking water health goal.
Brunswick Board Nixes New Solar Farm Rules
Brunswick County commissioners this week rejected proposed restrictions on solar farms that they said would impede the rights of private property owners.
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Director Resigns
The director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund has left after only six months at the position. The organization has announced Jo Langone is the new director.
Scientists: Pellet Industry Threatens Forests
More than 100 scientists have signed a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper urging protection of North Carolina forests from the state’s growing wood pellet industry.
Paddling Black River: Why Locals Oppose Park
Folks in communities along the Black River say a state park here would damage the ecology, exacerbate existing trespassing problems and create other problems.
DEQ Moves to Revoke Chemours’ Permits
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality announced Thursday that it is moving to revoke Chemours’ permit to discharge process wastewater because the company failed to comply with its permit and failed to report an Oct. 6 spill.
Our Coast’s Food: The Best Clam Chowder
Debate continues regarding the best kind of clam chowder, but on the North Carolina coast, Down East or Hatteras-style clam chowder reigns supreme because it’s made with mostly clams.
Onslow County to N. Topsail: Focus on Inlet
North Topsail Beach officials were advised this week to focus on inlet navigation rather than the town’s chronic north-end erosion in their appeal to Onslow County for help paying for a proposed terminal groin.
Plan to Move Port Channel Prompts Request
Carteret County Shore Protection office asked the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the proposed plan to move the Morehead City port channel from Shackleford Banks west toward Atlantic Beach won’t result in serious erosion of the eastern end of Bogue Banks.
Winter Birds Are Arriving On The Outer Banks
Jeff Lewis, an expert on birds and bird-watching, writes for his November column about winter birds, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker, brown creeper, winter wren, waterfowl and other birds you might find this time of year on the Outer Banks.
Water Issues Are Sheinbaum’s Life Calling
Britt Sheinbaum has studied water quality and water conflict across the globe. Now a Wrightsville Beach resident, she is working on a Lower Cape Fear Basin water quality protection blueprint.
