The Environmental Protection Agency recently published draft standards for water quality and swimming advisories related to harmful algae blooms caused by nutrient-rich stormwater and agricultural runoff.
News & Features
Conservatives Wary of Cooper’s DEQ Pick
A coastal legislator and conservative groups have hinted at the confirmation battle that may be ahead in the Senate, leveling criticism at Michael Regan, Gov. Roy Cooper’s pick for environmental secretary.
River Advocates Work to Add Fish Passages
Building on the apparent success of the first rock arch rapids on the East Coast work has begun on a project to design and build rapids or other fish passages at the remaining dams.
Judge Halts Topsail Beach Building Permits
A judge has blocked Topsail Beach from issuing building permits for a stretch of oceanfront lots, a move prompted by a lawsuit brought by property owners upset about the town’s recent repeal of its dune protection ordinance.
Old Christmas Trees Can Build New Dunes
There’s a better place than the landfill for your natural Christmas tree: Fort Macon State Park and some beach towns are collecting trees for use in rebuilding dunes.
Last Piece of Park Addition Finally in Place
State officials, conservationists and supporters of Hammocks Beach State Park are celebrating the recently completed purchase of 45 acres, the final transaction in the park’s 290-acre expansion.
Bridge Work Brings Beneficial Reef Projects
Advocates say fishing and water quality will both improve thanks to a living shoreline reef under construction in Oregon Inlet and planned construction and restoration of artificial reefs in nearby waters using debris from the Bonner Bridge demolition.
Fees Rise As Demand for Recycled Items Dips
Demand for recycled materials has declined, resulting in higher costs for some local governments, where officials are considering changes, such as eliminating glass from curbside pickup.
New Stormwater Rules Set to Take Effect
New state stormwater rules with a new express permitting process, the result of three years of development involving various stakeholders, are set to take effect on New Years Day.
Cape Carteret Pond Project Yields Results
The North Carolina Coastal Federation says its project to improve water quality in a tidal creek in Cape Carteret is working as designed.
General Assembly: A Tale of Two Sessions
State lawmakers held two special sessions last week, unanimously approving disaster relief in one and enacting controversial limits on the incoming governor’s authority and sparking protests in the other.
Topsail Beach Repeals Dune Ordinance
Rather than add controversial provisions to accommodate development, Topsail Beach commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to simply scrap the town’s longstanding dune-protection ordinance.
Extra Session Called After Disaster Relief Vote
Leaders in the General Assembly decided to keep going Wednesday after approving a disaster recovery bill, calling another session for measures aimed at diminishing the incoming governor’s powers and loosening environmental rules.
Property Owners Divided Over Dune Rule
Topsail Beach property owners, some with their lawyers, turned out Saturday for the first of two public hearings over proposed changes to the town’s dune-protection ordinance.
Cooper Seeks to ‘Restore Credibility’ at DEQ
An adviser on Roy Cooper’s transition team says integrity and broad support are the governor-elect’s top priorities for choosing new leadership at the state’s environmental agency.
EPA to Navassa Residents: Get Involved
Environmental officials and others tasked with cleaning up the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. site in Navassa urged residents last week to participate in planning for future uses of the Superfund site.
