The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission on Thursday unanimously waived the normal 30-day public notice, expediting the rulemaking process covering the compounds classified as likely carcinogens.
Cape Lookout dredge spoils used to restore vanishing island
A haven for waterbirds since at least 1970, the quickly vanishing Sandbag Island near Harkers Island was recently expanded from a tenth of an acre to 5 acres using spoils from a dredge project around Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Bald Head Island curfew put to rest as staff eyes cameras
Public resistance to a proposed ordinance setting a curfew for teens has prompted village staff to instead look to camera systems and other ways to curb late-night sign vandalism and water-balloon attacks.
Commission advances rule for straw bales in lieu of fencing
The Coastal Resources Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the fiscal impact analysis of the proposed rule, which officials don’t expect to result in a significant increase in the use of straw bales to curb erosion.
Division, nonprofit team to tag red drum, track by satellite
Popular among anglers, little is known about the reproduction and migration of the state’s official saltwater fish, which the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Marine & Estuary Foundation’s new pilot tagging study seeks to remedy.
Jacksonville project to pinpoint impaired areas in New River
After successfully taking on the bacterial pollution that had plagued the river for 20 years, city officials are now turning their attention and a $400,000 state grant toward the development-related runoff that causes algal blooms and fish kills.
Program helps commercial property owners reduce runoff
Wilmington’s green infrastructure cost-share rebate program is making thousands of dollars in rebates available to businesses and large-scale property owners who want to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff reaching two city watersheds.
Bald Head Island ferry users say change would cut capacity
A proposed change to the privately run ferry between Bald Head Island and the Brunswick County mainland got a cold reception Tuesday during a public hearing.
Bald Head Island proposes curfew to curtail juvenile antics
Village officials have drafted an islandwide curfew for people younger than 18 in an effort to curb the water-balloon-wielding perpetrators and sign stealers behind recent rashes of 911 calls.
New Hanover County eyes riverside conservation, cleanup
The board of commissioners agreed to take time to draft changes to the county’s 2016 comprehensive land use plan to create a new conservation designation for the riverfront site across from downtown Wilmington
Commission’s vote sets stage to reinstate coastal rules
The Coastal Resources Commission was unanimous in its action during a special meeting Tuesday.
UNCW team IDs mystery species infecting bay scallops
Using DNA sequencing, University of North Carolina Wilmington researchers have identified a species of trematode, a parasitic and suspected invasive species here that has further set back the state’s already struggling bay scallop stocks but is no threat to humans.
EPA chief, governor visit Brunswick County to hail funding
Under a canopy of towering pines in the Green Swamp Preserve, Gov. Roy Cooper, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and others touted grants to reduce carbon emissions and help communities become more resilient.
Long-running UNCW field course merges science, policy
One scholar calls the seven-night, eight-day University of North Carolina Wilmington summer class an “eye-opener” to the environmental issues coastal North Carolina faces.
Commission members balk on 5 proposed PFAS standards
Committees of the Environmental Management Commission stalled proposed health standards for most of the eight synthetic compounds put forth, including two the EPA classified as likely carcinogens.
Cooper declines to sign bill delaying catch-reporting rule
The controversial measure that requires recreational anglers and commercial fishermen to report their catch of five named species takes effect late next year.
