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.
Coastal Policy
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.
30-Year-Old Law Provokes a Fight
The federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act was meant to discourage development on some barrier islands. It hasn’t worked very well on N. Topsail Island and property owners there want it changed.
CRC Meeting: Quorum or Quandary
The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission meets today to decided whether to appeal a court ruling. But only four members are left after the legislature fired most of the panel. Can the commission legally conduct business with less than a third of its members?
Pony Up to Park at Some N.C. Beaches
While only a handful of North Carolina’s coastal towns charge beachgoers to park, the oft-controversial topic is a recurring discussion in some towns, begging the question of whether free parking at the beach will eventually become a thing of the past.
How Much Freshwater Can a Swamp Take?
That’s the main question being asked about two proposed quarries that will dump almost 24 million gallons a day of freshwater into brackish, blackwater creeks.
