Both the National Park Service and state have comment periods open on an erosional control measure along the shoreline of the national historic site on Roanoke Island.
News & Features
Division OKs Corps’ request to pause state consistency review
The N.C. Division of Coastal Management has granted a request by the Corps of Engineers to indefinitely pause the division’s review of whether the proposed project conforms with state coastal management program laws, regulations and policies.
Harbor project may risk Orton, other Cape Fear historic sites
Advocates for and owners of historic sites near the North Carolina Port of Wilmington urge the state to object to a proposed federal project to deepen and widen the harbor to accommodate larger ships.
Commission OKs advancing wastewater rules to public review
The public will soon be able to lodge their comments about proposed rules mandating that public sewer plants test their treated discharge into rivers, creeks and streams for three types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and a chemical solvent.
New year, new definition: Feds set to limit water protections
The public has until Monday to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed changes to the “waters of the United States” definition that are expected to limit eligibility for federal water quality safeguards.
Imported shrimp served at restaurants touting local catch
A sizeable majority of Outer Banks restaurants that claim to serve local, wild-caught shrimp have been found through genetic testing to be serving imported farm-raised shrimp instead.
Climate change compounds challenge to stabilize beaches
Stabilizing Outer Banks beaches is becoming more challenging with the quickly evolving and often unpredictable consequences of a changing climate: Sea levels are increasing faster than projected, storms are intensifying, rainfall is heavier.
Carteret chairman rejects call to extend Jewish greetings, too
“How could Jews not take offense?”: Carteret County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chris Chadwick said he was “caught off guard” when another commissioner suggested he also wish the public a “Happy Hanukkah” in addition to his “Merry Christmas.”
New Hanover County agrees to purchase, preserve 28 acres
Commissioners have unanimously agreed to a $2.24 million deal that includes two undeveloped tracts across from downtown Wilmington that will remain preserved from development once they are county-owned.
Navassa chemical firm guilty of Cape Fear discharges
The chemical processing firm American Distillation Inc. in Brunswick County is guilty of purposely discharging pollutants into the Cape Fear River, and company owner Andrew J. Simmons Jr. pleaded guilty to failing to pay federal taxes.
Public hearing Tuesday on proposed ‘WOTUS’ definition
A hearing is set for next week on the proposed definition rolled out last month for “Waters of the United States,” which outlines the waterbodies eligible for protection under the federal Clean Water Act, that conservationists warn will leave millions of acres of nontidal wetlands vulnerable to pollution, harm fish habitat and worsen flooding.
Opponents say river water transfer puts Cape Fear in peril
Fuquay-Varina seeks to transfer 6.17 million gallons per day from the Cape Fear River Basin to the Neuse River Basin to meet the Piedmont town’s projected water demands.
Chemours cannot keep documents sealed, federal judge rules
Chemours and its predecessor company DuPont had sought to seal records including regulatory compliance monitoring reports and internal corporate communications about chemical production.
CRC votes on language, again, to protect Jockey’s Ridge
The Coastal Resources Commission during its regular meeting last week voted on proposed language that changes the “Description” of Jockey’s Ridge to the “Designation” in an attempt to satisfy the most recent Rules Review Commission’s objection.
Ocean Isle Beach landowners get OK to build sandbag wall
Petitioners were granted permission to build a sandbag wall to protect their oceanfront properties at The Pointe in Ocean Isle Beach, with a stipulation that the public area of the beach remain unimpeded by the structure.
Timbermill Wind celebrates becoming Chowan’s top taxpayer
The company’s annual payments to the county over the project’s 30-year lifespan are expected to total $50 million, and the infusion of revenue this year totals more than last year’s top nine taxpayers combined.
