For the second time in less than a year, North Topsail Beach will ask for more time to remove an illegal portion of a sand bag wall it built in 2014 at New River Inlet. Now, the town wants six more years.
Archives
Budget Marks $1.4 Million for Oyster Work
Coastal advocates and shellfish growers say communities in the east will benefit from funding for oyster sanctuaries and restoration projects included in the state budget compromise announced this week.
Not All Happy With Proposed N.C. 12 Bridge
Holding signs and chanting “Save our Sounds,” a small group of Hatteras Island property owners protested against a projected bridge that they say will hurt property values, livelihoods and lifestyles.
Guest Column: Seismic Tests Won’t Harm Fish
The president of the only trade group for companies and people involved in seismic testing for oil and natural gas says there’s no evidence that the tests harm fish as some environmental groups now claim.
Critics Charge an Ill Wind Blows From Raleigh
Supporters say a bill passed Monday by the state Senate will protect vital military air space from land-based wind farms, while opponents charge it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing and is intended to kill wind energy.
Report Highlights Benefits of Riparian Buffers
A new report highlighting the role of riparian buffers in preventing fish kills comes as North Carolina lawmakers consider scrapping rules that require the protections.
Scientists Find Cancer in Shellfish
Scientists have discovered an infectious form of cancer in clams, but not harmful to humans, adding to the growing number species that have contagious forms of cancer.
Maps Show Undisclosed Animal Operations
Maps released by environmental groups show the location of over 6,500 concentrated animal feeding operations known to be a public health and environmental hazard.
Sunset Beach Votes to Go to Court
The Sunset Beach Town Council voted Tuesday to file a lawsuit against the company planning to build an upscale development on a portion of land that the town says it owns.
Group Gets New Keeper, New Direction
Nicole Triplett has hit the water paddling as the new riverkeeper for the White Oak-New Riverkeeper Alliance, which has remade itself with a new board of directors and a new direction.
Feds: No New Rules to Protect Sturgeon
A public hearing will be held this week in Morehead City on a federal proposal to protect Atlantic sturgeon habitat. The designation of critical habitat won’t require new rules, federal officials say.
Bill Marks Shoals as Sources for Beach Sand
The state Senate is considering changes to environmental laws that would allow shoals off North Carolina’s coastal capes to be tapped as sand sources for beach re-nourishment projects.
Topsail Beach’s Sand Dune Debate
The much-debated dune ordinance Topsail Beach adopted a year ago is once again under review with the town planning board determining how much sand, if any, may be removed from a property in order to build.
McCrory Urges Prompt Permitting for Seismic
Gov. Pat McCrory has sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell urging quick processing of permit applications submitted by companies that seek to conduct seismic tests to explore oil and natural gas resources off the state’s coast.
The Ocean: Calming a Stormy Mind
Whether it’s the smell of the sea or the rhythmic lapping of waves upon the shore, science has long known the calming effect the ocean has on the human mind, the “blue mind” as one scientist calls it.
Early-Season Fish Kill Seen at Neuse River site
A fish kill affecting larger species such as flounder and horseshoe crabs was reported this week in the Neuse River near New Bern.
