Coastal oceanographer Dr. Reide Corbett is to give his talk, “Science, Shorelines, and Tradeoffs: Understanding What’s Happening Along the Outer Banks Coast,” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Waverider’s in Nags Head.
water quality
EMC to vote on opening comment period for discharge rules
The state Environmental Management Commission is set to vote Thursday on whether to put proposed “monitoring and minimization” rules for some PFAS and 1,4-dioxane out for public comment.
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.
CFPUA head to discuss impacts of proposed water transfer
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Executive Director Kenneth Waldroup will discuss at Cape Fear River Watch’s First Saturday Seminar on Jan. 3 the potential impacts of Fuquay-Varina’s request to transfer millions of gallons of water a day from the Cape Fear River Basin to the Neuse River Basin.
NCDEQ’s staffing cut by more than 30% over 14 years: Report
As North Carolina’s population has grown and the factory farming industry expanded, the state’s environmental agency staff has been slashed by almost a third in less than 15 years.
Untreated sewage released into Jacksonville’s Scales Creek
A broken sewer line found Saturday near Lejeune Boulevard in Jacksonville led to the discharge of an estimated 129,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into Scales Creek.
Revised discharge permit issued for Vanceboro quarry
The N.C. Division of Water Resources on Wednesday issued Martin Marietta Inc.’s Vanceboro Quarry a revised wastewater discharge permit, which allows for the release of 12 million gallons per day from two outfalls into unnamed tributaries of Blounts Creek.
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.
Pipe failure in Sunset Beach leads to sewage discharge
A break in a sewer main was repaired by Monday afternoon after more than 19,000 gallons of untreated wastewater discharged in Sunset Beach.
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.
EPA, Army Corps leaders publish revised ‘WOTUS’ definition
Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers officials said Monday that proposed changes to the existing “waters of the United States” definition are to focus on relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water.
Sediment Control Commission to meet Thursday
The North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission during its meeting Thursday is to consider continuing to give N.C. Department of Transpiration authority to review and approve erosion and sedimentation control plans for land-disturbing activities.
Asheboro plant discharges elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane
Sampling at Asheboro’s wastewater treatment plant revealed elevated discharges of 1,4-dioxane, a likely human carcinogen, in a waterway upstream of drinking water sources for some 900,000 North Carolinians.
Commission holds PFAS, 1,4-dioxane vote for future meeting
The Environmental Management Commission voted to postpone hearing proposed rules to monitor and minimize the two human-made chemical compounds from industrial users and dischargers.
Port’s Cape Fear dredge project fails taxpayers, environment
Guest commentary: Deepening the Cape Fear River will only worsen flooding around the downtown Wilmington waterfront and the North Carolina Battleship site and lead to a substantial loss of vital wetlands and floodplains.
