Several boating and fishing groups and boat manufacturers are opposed to a bill that would raise the yearly registration fee on all recreational boats in North Carolina in order to pay for dredging inlets along the coast.
News & Features
State House to Go Slow on Injection Wells
A bill that could allow fracking waste fluids to be injected into coastal aquifers will get a careful review in the state House, says a New Hanover representative.
Protecting the Green Swamp
The Nature Conservancy recently bought more than 450 acres bordering the Green Swamp in Brunswick County. Pinch Gut Ridge will help protect the swamp and is a haven for longleaf pine and many species or rare plants.
McCrory Pledges ‘Action’ on N.C. 12
Gov. Pat McCrory visited the Outer Banks and battered N.C. 12, which was closed again because of high seas. McCrory told residents at a meeting in Manteo that the state will be “pragmatic” in finding a solution to the road’s woes.
Kids to Get a Jump on Marine Science
High school students in New Hanover County will be able to take college-level classes at Ashley High’s new Marine Science Academy. It’s a dream come true for teacher Sandy Cecelski.
Public Hearing Set for Proposed Mine
People will have a chance to comment Thursday on a permit for a proposed limestone mine near Vanceboro that will discharge 12 million gallons of water a day into the headwaters of Blounts Creek.
McDonald’s Project Exempted from Runoff Rules
The state has exempted a planned McDonald’s restaurant in Swansboro from rules to control polluted runoff. But is the permit legal?
Something Old, Something New, Something Green
For the bride and groom-to-be who want to celebrate their nuptials in an eco-friendly way, professionals say even the most minute choices can make a difference.
A New Approach to Rebuilding Oyster Reefs
The state and commercial fishermen on Ocracoke will try a new method to replenish oyster reefs around the island in hopes of reducing losses to sponges, crabs and other predators.
Swansboro Church Goes Green
The N.C. Coastal Federation will help Swansboro Methodist Church incorporate green designs to control stormwater at its new Family Life and Ministry Center.
House Committee Reworks Commissions Bill
A bill that revamps the state’s regulatory commissions emerged from a N.C. House committee yesterday without many of the provisions that have drawn criticism since the bill first passed the state Senate almost three weeks ago.
Wilmington School Will Get Green Award
Bradley Creek Elementary School’s work to control runoff and provide an outdoor classroom of flowers,insects and amphibians will be honored today as an outstanding achievement in sustainable building.
Little Greenhouse Provides Big Lessons
An elementary school in Carteret County has something few grade schools can boast — a greenhouse. There, students learn valuable lessons about the natural world around them.
DOT Torpedoes Ferries at Oregon Inlet
No high-speed ferry exists today that could safely carry millions of vehicles a year across the heavily shoaled Oregon Inlet and Pamlico Sound, according to a new transportation report.
Lawmakers Warned About Commissions Bill
North Carolina’s environmental agency has warned legislators that they are putting the state’s federally approved coastal-management program in jeopardy if a bill that remakes the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission becomes law.
State Asks Supreme Court to Step In
The N.C. Attorney General’s office has asked the state Supreme Court to review a recent Court of Appeals decision regarding the future ownership of 289 acres adjacent to Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County.
