The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge turned 33 years old this week, as the National Wildlife Refuge System marked its 114th year.
News Briefs
Oak Island Pier Closed, to be Rebuilt
The Oak Island Pier was closed last week by town officials because of safety concerns stemming from damage suffered during Hurricane Matthew.
Poll: NC Voters Support Renewable Energy
A poll from Conservatives for Clean Energy shows North Carolina voters overwhelmingly support candidates who work to advance clean energy.
Bill Would Block Cape Fear Reclassification
A bill recently filed in the N.C. General Assembly would block a proposed reclassification of part of the lower Cape Fear River, a change that could ease requirements on polluters upriver.
Chamber Opposes Repeal of Plastic Bag Ban
The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is opposing Dare County Rep. Beverly Boswells bill Tuesday to repeal a ban on plastic bags for coastal businesses.
State Out of Clean Power Challenge
A federal court has released the state from a legal challenge against the federal Clean Power Plan the state joined under former Gov. McCrory.
Coastal Commission Chair Gorham Resigns
Frank Gorham, chairman of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, has resigned, announcing his decision in an email Thursday.
New Leader for Marine Fisheries Sought
N.C. environmental officials are looking for a new director for the Division of Marine Fisheries to cut down on the workload for current director Braxton Davis, who also leads the Division of Coastal Management.
NOAA Tool Ranks Regional Climate Patterns
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been promoting a tool that ranks regional climate data from across the country and from a little over a century.
Airlie Road Parcel OK’d for Development
The Wilmington City Council approved on Tuesday a controversial 57-home development off Airlie Road following a nearly two-hour public hearing on the request.
Warming Could Affect Ocean Life by 2050
A study out of England published this week in the journal Nature Communications looks at when the influence of climate change could begin to stress ocean ecosystems.
Drone Researcher to Present Work to Public
The public is invited to hear a Duke University researcher speak about using drones to observe marine mammals in Antarctica during a presentation in Beaufort.
Jeff Warren Picked For Collaboratory Post
Jeffrey Warren, a former science adviser to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, has been named research director of the UNC Policy Collaboratory.
Upgrades proposed for Hatteras Ferry
State transportation officials and Cape Hatteras National Seashore invite the public to comment on proposed changes to the ferry facilities serving Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.
Wide Swath of Shellfish Waters Closed
The Division of Marine Fisheries has closed 2,450 acres of shellfish waters, a move prompted by unsafe bacterial levels measured during sanitary surveys and reviews during the last five years.
Hunting Permit System Proposed for Reserve
The public is invited to comment at an upcoming meeting in Beaufort on proposed plans for a hunting permit system for the Rachel Carson Reserve in Carteret County.
