Uncertain of what an updated sea-level rise report would accomplish, two members of the N.C. Coastal Resource Commission’s Science Panel resigned this year. The chairman won’t fill any positions until the release of that report in 2015.
Coastal Policy
Cape Fear Request Draws Fire
A request to reclassify a portion of the lower Cape Fear River as swamp is drawing sharp criticism from some members of the organization asking for the change because it would lower a key water-quality standard.
Marina to CRC: Help Our Boats Get Wet
Boats launching from a Wilmington marina can only access the Cape Fear River at high tide. Marina owners turn to the Coastal Resources Commission today in hopes of a solution.
Sunset Beach Plan May Not Stop Project
The town’s land-use plan may not stop a proposed project to build 23 oceanfront houses on land that was once an inlet.
Developer Wants to Build in Old Hazard Area
Two months after the state’s controversial decision to remove an old inlet on Sunset Beach from its inlet-hazard zone, a developer announced plans to put 23 homes there.
Pamlico Commissioners Lose Patience
Five months after asking the Army Corps of Engineers to investigate alleged illegal ditching of wetlands, Pamlico County commissioners want EPA to intervene.
How Aggressive Will the State Be?
Regulators charged with protecting the state’s wetlands now work for a slimmed down environmental agency that is expected to be more business friendly. More of those regulators than ever before now can be fired at any time, for any reason.
Bad Moon Arising Over State’s Wetlands?
Several events during the first year of Gov. Pat McCrory’s administration have activists in North Carolina alarmed that the state’s once-firm commitment to preserving wetlands is eroding.
CRC to Finally Get Down to Work
After a legislature-mandated shakeup that reduced its numbers and replaced roughly two-thirds of its membership, a newly-reconstituted N.C. Coastal Resources Commission starts work this week.
Water Bill Worries Jones, Others on Coast
As it heads to a conference committee, the federal water resources bill still has some skeptics on the N.C. coast, chief among them U.S. Rep. Walter Jones.
Pamlico Commissioners Want Answers
The Pamlico County commissioners voted last night to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to re-examine its decision that wetlands aren’t present on hundreds of forested acres near Merritt that were cleared for farming.
Land Clearing in Pamlico May Spur Action
Pamlico County commissioners tonight will consider taking action on a major land-clearing operation that farmers and business leaders fear is damaging wetlands and could lead to serious coastal water quality degradation.
Flood Insurance Changes Explained
After being buffeted for years with criticism for encouraging irresponsible development along coastlines, the National Flood Insurance Program has begun phasing out subsidies on policies for high-risk properties.
McCrory Releases CRC Appointments
Officials with the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources are hopeful that a slate of appointments released by the governor’s office yesterday means the Coastal Resources Commission can soon return to work.
Pamlico Land Clearing Raises Concerns
Environmentalists fear that a major land-clearing operation near the Neuse River in Pamlico County could be destroying wetlands without the required permits.
Turning on the Federal Spigot?
If N. Topsail Beach succeeds in its fight to change the boundaries of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, federal money can be spent to subsidize flood insurance and development in town for the first time.