Critics warn that House Bill 600 threatens to chip away at some protections provided by the Clean Water Act.
News Briefs
Brunswick prescribed fire ‘escapes’; air quality alerts issued
Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties are under red and orange air quality alerts because of a 3,500-acre fire east of N.C. Highway 211 in Brunswick County.
Expect delays on U.S. 17, I-40 in Pender, Brunswick counties
Work on U.S. 17 between Old Ocean Highway and Bolivia is to begin Monday and on Tuesday for I-40 between Exits 388 and 408 in Pender County.
Coastal commission denies group’s Gibbs Creek nomination
The Beaufort Citizens Alliance had nominated the Gibbs Creek watershed as a coastal complex natural area of environmental concern.
Evan Kekahuna, 3, wins lifetime NC fishing license in raffle
His name was drawn from 53 entrants in the Bicentennial Jamboree passport raffle Saturday at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ office in Morehead City after he qualified by completing tasks and receiving passport stamps at exhibits.
No ESGs, ETJs: Bills nix green investments, planning tool
House Bill 750 ratified this week bars state hiring and investment policies that consider environmental or socioeconomic factors, while Senate Bill 675 eliminates municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions.
Bill limiting NC wetland protections sent to Gov. Cooper
The measure removes the state’s regulatory authority that now protects federally nonjurisdictional wetlands.
Challenges persist to dredge Avon, Hatteras harbors
The Dare County Waterways Commission sees continued challenges related to upcoming projects to dredge Avon Harbor and the entrance to Hatteras Harbor.
Core Sound to hook folks with ‘Fish House Liars’ Parlor Talk
A new topic is planned for each Thursday afternoon through Aug. 31 in the upstairs parlor of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center’s downtown Morehead City location.
Public gets first peek of Penelope at Plymouth event
The first of two fast ferries to transport passengers between six communities on the Albemarle Sound was unveiled Friday in Plymouth.
NCDOT using new material to replace Harkers Island bridge
The department is using a carbon-fiber reinforced polymer to combat corrosion and help the bridge last longer than those built with steel-reinforced materials.
Duke offers lab space to Coastal Carolina Riverwatch
The Duke University Wetlands Center in Beaufort has welcomed Coastal Carolina Riverwatch to share its lab, allowing the organization to save money while working toward its water quality goals.
Endangered red wolf topic of next ‘Science on the Sound’
Joe Madison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Red Wolf Recovery Program manager, will present “Red Wolf Revitalization: Current Status of the Red Wolf” June 14, at the Coastal Studies Institute.
Roanoke’s Island Farm to root for the potato at ‘Tater Day’
Visitors can join historic interpreters Wednesday, dig potatoes from the farm gardens and then watch the freshly harvested potatoes become kettle-fried potato chips.
Pender seeks comment on draft bike, pedestrian plan
Feedback from the community on recommendations in the draft Pender County Bicycle and Pedestrian will be accepted until June 23.
NC fishing, hunting license system to go offline for upgrade
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is launching a new license and vessel registration system July 1.