Farm Act of 2019, which focuses on hemp industry regulations, but could loosen swine operation construction and upgrade requirements, will go before the Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee next week.
News Briefs
Water System Merger Bill Advances
Senate Bill 434 requiring the merger of the Bay River Metropolitan Sewerage District, which serves about 3,000 customers in Pamlico County, and the West Bay River system, which serves about 300 customers, would go into effect Oct. 1 if approved.
Forest Service Tames Browns Island Fire
Officials are working to learn the cause of the large wildfire Thursday morning on Browns Island near Beaufort, which was transitioned to a controlled burn to expedite the burning process.
Lower Neuse River Seeing Distressed Fish
North Carolina Division of Water Resources staff and other state officials are investigating a recent fish kill in the lower portion of the Neuse River near Havelock in the areas of Flanners Beach and Carolina Pines.
Ocracoke Express Ready for Reservations
Travelers between Ocracoke and Hatteras through June 15 can now make reservations for a spot on the Ocracoke Express Passenger Ferry either online or by calling 800-BY-FERRY.
Cape Hatteras Cleanups Set for June 22
Cape Hatteras National Seashore and North Carolina Beach Buggy Association are hosting the morning of June 22 several drop-in volunteer beach cleanups of seashore beaches.
Astronomy Night Programs Resume Saturday
Astronomy Night at the Cape Lookout National Seashore’s Harkers Island Visitor Center with park rangers and members of the Crystal Coast Stargazers is from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Birding Trail to Open at Manteo Aquarium
The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island will unveil its new nature play trail, “For the Birds,” featuring Outer Banks and migratory birds during Memorial Day weekend.
Dare Board Approves Dredge Contract
Dare County Commissioners approved Monday a contract for the design, construction and operation of a dredge that will clear and maintain Oregon and Hatteras inlets and other shallow draft inlets in the state under the direction of the Oregon Inlet Task Force.
Land Trust Acquires Craven County Tract
The Coastal Land Trust has used money from the legal settlement over the Havelock bypass fight to buy and preserve 182 acres surrounded by Croatan National Forest near New Bern.
NCDEQ to Unveil EJ Mapping System
A state mapping system with a tool featuring underserved communities is being unveiled Wednesday during the Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board meeting in Charlotte.
Avangrid Mulls Solar Project Near Wind Farm
An Avangrid Renewables official told an Elizabeth City group that it’s considering construction of a solar project near the company’s 104-turbine Amazon Wind Farm.
Ocracoke Express Ferry to Launch May 20
The Ocracoke Express Passenger Ferry Service is set to begin Monday shuttling passengers between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village, NCDOT’s ferry division announced Friday.
DPS Names Recovery and Resiliency Officers
The newly formed North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency announced the appointment of three resilience officers to lead the state’s initiative to help storm-affected communities recover, rebuild and prepare.
New Buxton Beach Access to Open May 24
Cape Hatteras National Seashore plans to open May 24 the Buxton Beach Access, formerly a U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard base at the end of Old Lighthouse Road, to provide improved public access to oceanside recreational activities.
BOEM Opens Virtual Archaeology Museum
BOEM’s Virtual Archaeology Museum displays video, detailed 3D models and mosaic maps of shipwrecks from the 19th and 20th centuries, including the Blake Ridge Wreck off of the N.C. coast.