2015 goes down as the hottest year in recorded history, blowing away the previous record and the claim that climate change has leveled off since the late 1990s.
Archives
EPA Gets Blame for Coal-Ash Delays
Tom Reeder, assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, blames EPA officials for delays in cleaning up 32 coal-ash ponds in the state.
Crabbers Join Effort to Clear Marine Debris
Crab fishermen, residents, state and federal agencies and the N.C. Coastal Federation have partnered to remove derelict crab pots and other debris from coastal waters.
Kure Beach Opposes Drilling, Testing
The Kure Beach Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose seismic testing and drilling for offshore oil and gas.
Public Can Hear About Figure 8 Groin
Environmental groups opposed to the proposed terminal groin on Figure Eight Island are sponsoring a public forum on the project on Saturday.
‘Winter Blanket’
An inviting beach trail is covered under the blanket of unblemished snow.
Taking the Pulse of Currituck Sound
The Army Corps of Engineers has launched a $1.3 million research project in Currituck Sound to collect long-term data that should help scientists monitor water quality in the sound and understand the effects of climate change.
EMC OKs Exemption of Small Polluters
Despite overwhelming opposition, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission approved new permit rules that exempt small air polluters from needing state permits.
Guest Column: Seismic Tests Critical
Donald R. van der Vaart, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, responds to congressmen who oppose proposed seismic tests off North Carolina.
Scientists: Alligator Hunt Premature
Scientists raise questions about a proposal by the state’s Wildlife Resources Commission to allow alligator hunting. Public hearings on the plan are scheduled next week in Edenton and New Bern.
Small Polluters Could Get a Pass
The N.C. Environmental Management Commission Thursday will likely pass new rules that will exempt small air polluters from state permits. Eighty-six of those plants are on the coast.
DEQ Secretary Responds to Warning
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Donald R. van der Vaart has responded to an EPA administrator’s warning over pollution permit challenges.
Study Finds Lack of Coral, Fish Protection
A new study finds that designated marine protected areas do not adequately conserve the evolutionary history of fish and coral in reefs across the globe.
Guest Column: ‘Island Time’ on Hatteras
Life slows down on Hatteras Island in the winter. The tourists are gone, and most of the shops are closed. January is a time for beach combing and catching up with neighbors.
Work Begins on Stormwater Ponds
Long-planned work on two eyesore ponds to improve stormwater drainage and protect nearby Deer Creek and Bogue Sound got underway last week in Cape Carteret.
First Come a Flood of Reports
The N.C. General Assembly ordered a bevy of studies — stormwater, beach erosion and wetlands to name a few — that are due this spring. The studies offer hints of legislation to come.
