Congressman Walter B. Jones wants the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate all possible outcomes of its proposal to move the Morehead City Port channel 700 feet west, away from Shackleford Banks and toward Atlantic Beach.
News Briefs
Coastal Commission’s Science Panel To Meet
The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission’s Science Panel will meet Dec. 5 in New Bern to review inlet shoreline change rates and to discuss methodologies used to update inlet hazard area.
Public Forum Dec. 4 To Hear GenX Concerns
A meeting of the N.C. Science Advisory Board is set for Monday in Wilmington, followed by a public forum to hear feedback on GenX and other concerns surrounding emerging contaminants.
NCDOT To Upgrade To New, Larger Ferry
Elliot Bay Design Group has designed a 38-vehicle ferry for NC DOT Ferry Division expected to replace the 26-vehicle, M/V Thomas A. Baum Hatteras-class ferry in March 2019 when vessel construction is completed.
Senate Bill Would End Red Wolf Program
A Senate panel has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to end its 30-year effort to help the nearly-extinct eastern red wolf recover in the wild.
Donald Van Der Vaart Resigns DEQ Position
Donald van der Vaart, the former Department of Environmental Quality secretary under Gov. Pat McCrory, has resigned from his position in DEQ’s Division of Air Quality after being put on suspension.
State Seeks Input on VW Settlement Funds
The state received $92 million in Volkswagen settlement funds to reduce air pollution from mobile sources and is looking for public input on how the funds should be invested.
New Data Show High GenX Concentrations
Department of Environmental Quality announced Wednesday that concentrations of GenX at Chemours’ wastewater discharge outfall in Fayetteville recently exceeded the state’s provisional drinking water health goal.
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Director Resigns
The director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund has left after only six months at the position. The organization has announced Jo Langone is the new director.
Scientists: Pellet Industry Threatens Forests
More than 100 scientists have signed a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper urging protection of North Carolina forests from the state’s growing wood pellet industry.
DEQ Moves to Revoke Chemours’ Permits
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality announced Thursday that it is moving to revoke Chemours’ permit to discharge process wastewater because the company failed to comply with its permit and failed to report an Oct. 6 spill.
Plan to Move Port Channel Prompts Request
Carteret County Shore Protection office asked the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the proposed plan to move the Morehead City port channel from Shackleford Banks west toward Atlantic Beach won’t result in serious erosion of the eastern end of Bogue Banks.
New Partnership To Conserve Lands, Waters
North Carolina Forever, a new partnership dedicated to conserving and protecting the state’s lands and waters, was formally launched Tuesday. Members come from a range of organizations and both political parties.
Former Mayor, CRC Member Pleads Guilty
Former Caswell Beach mayor Harry Simmons pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling from a Brunswick County organization that lobbies for beach protections.
DEQ: Further Action Against Chemours
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality plans to take additional action against Chemours because an increased concentration of GenX was found in wastewater discharge at its Fayetteville Works facility.
Hatteras Lighthouse Winter Climb Dec. 9
See Cape Hatteras during a winter climb 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 9. The free morning climb is being offered as part of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau OBXmas Weekends that highlights holiday activities on the Outer Banks.