One of the main objections voiced at a public hearing in New Bern on a package of proposed stormwater rules focused on provisions that exclude landscape architects from submitting applications for the new fast-track permitting process.
Archives
Seismic Testing Will Continue in Atlantic
Though the federal government removed the Atlantic Ocean from its proposed five-year plan for oil and natural gas leasing, offshore seismic testing for fossil fuels will continue as planned.
Will New Runoff Rules Protect Waterways?
State officials are seeking public comment on a major overhaul of stormwater rules. We explore whether the new rules will better protect our coastal waters or are merely a means for faster permitting.
Topsail Seeks Exception to Federal Rule
Topsail Beach officials are asking the Army Corps of Engineers for an exemption to federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act restrictions to secure their preferred source of sand for beach re-nourishment projects.
Settlement Reached on Hofmann Forest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and trustees of N.C. State University’s endowment fund and the university’s natural resources foundation have reached an agreement in which ditches must be plugged to restore natural water flow on 120 acres of the 79,000-acre Hofmann Forest.
Bogue Banks’ Lost Lighthouse Shone Briefly
Fort Macon is one of Bogue Banks’ best-known attractions – it’s North Carolina’s second most visited state park – but the lighthouse that once stood nearby and guided mariners into Beaufort Inlet remains unknown to many visitors.
‘The Otter Way’
Reader Marilyn Kircus captured this image of river otters at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Study: Military Aircraft Don’t Bother Shorebird
A recently published study shows American oystercatchers, a bird species of special concern in North Carolina and in other Atlantic states, are more likely to leave their nests when vehicles and pedestrians pass them than when military aircraft fly overhead.
Center Offers New Model for Hog Farming
Work going on at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems is focused on sustainable agriculture, including a project to show how hogs can be raised without antibiotics and without storing their waste in troublesome open-air lagoons.
Opponents Applaud Drilling Decision
Many on the N.C. coast applauded the announcement Tuesday that the federal government has taken Atlantic offshore waters off the list of proposed leasing areas for oil and natural gas drilling.
Experts Weigh In On Figure 8’s Groin Plan
Coastal geologists, environmental groups and others came together recently to discuss Figure Eight Island’s plans for a terminal groin to fight erosion, but the opposing sides in the debate didn’t get any closer to a consensus.
Grant to Fund Gullah Geechee Preservation
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the N.C. Coastal Land Trust and the town of Navassa to develop plans to conserve Gullah Geechee heritage.
Bond Includes $11 Million for Coastal Parks
Voters on Tuesday will consider a $2 billion bond package that includes money for 45 projects in the 41 state parks. Campground improvements, land acquisitions, visitors’ centers and boat ramps are some of the projects at coastal parks.
Opponents Celebrate Titan Decision
Longtime opponents cheered Titan America’s announcement yesterday that the company was dropping its controversial plans for a cement plant near Wilmington but the news was a disappointment for those who saw the project as needed economic investment.
Historic Building Sprouts A Green Roof
A 1950’s era building in downtown Wilmington is getting a lot of oohs ad aahs after New Hanover County redesigned it into a modern office space that incorporates numerous energy-saving and sustainability features, including a planted roof that reduces stormwater runoff.
McCrory: New Bridge Meaningful for Dare
Gov. Pat McCrory, during a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, talks about the importance of the long-awaited replacement for the aging Bonner Bridge for the livelihood and safety of Dare County residents.
