The Environmental Management Commission is to vote during its Sept. 11 meeting on a legally mandated change to the state’s regulatory definition of wetlands and on groundwater quality standards for PFOA, PFOS and GenX.
water quality
Pump power failure leads to wastewater spill in Calabash River
Brunswick County Public Utilities officials believe about 1,100 gallons of untreated wastewater discharged into the Calabash River after one of the utilities’ pump stations experienced a power failure on Monday.
Beaufort seeks $6.5M in funding for water system upgrades
Town commissioners plan to seek an additional USDA loan to complete the work that’s months behind and designed to reduce flooding, improve water quality and repair old infrastructure.
Brunswick fires, sues water treatment plant contractor
Citing repeated delays and poor workmanship, Brunswick County on July 25 filed a lawsuit against and terminated the contracting company it hired to expand and upgrade the Northwest Water Treatment Plant.
More than $240M awarded for water, wastewater upgrades
Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects in a handful of coastal counties are among 48 projects selected to receive funding grants.
First turtle patrol beach sweep nets 120 pounds of trash
More than 120 pounds of trash, predominately plastics, were picked up off Holden Beach’s ocean shore during the Holden Beach Turtle Patrol’s first beach sweep.
Global wetlands loss strips trillions in economic benefits
An intergovernmental report concludes that if the world’s wetlands continue to vanish and deteriorate it may equate to tens of trillions in economic loss.
Buxton site restoration advisory board to meet July 17
Gayle Garland, the Corps’ project manager for the former military site at Buxton on Hatteras Island, is to provide an update on the cleanup.
Environmental Management Commission to meet July 9-10
The state commission that adopts rules to protect natural resources is expected to hear this week updates on existing measures to improve air and water quality, but the bulk of the July 9-10 meeting will concentrate on the mandated periodic review process for several existing rules.
Hearing on mandated wetland redefinition draws no support
Those who spoke Thursday during a public hearing in Raleigh urged the Environmental Management Commission to work with legislators to rescind the amendment narrowing state protections.
Coastal Federation urges public to weigh in on wetland rule
The nonprofit organization that publishes Coastal Review is calling on residents to speak out next week on the legislatively mandated rule change that would diminish North Carolina’s water quality protections.
Completion dates pushed for Brunswick water plant upgrades
Contractor delays have pushed back the completion date of upgrades, including a reverse osmosis system, at Brunswick County Public Utilities’ Northwest Water Treatment Plant.
Officials urge ‘When in doubt, stay out’ of discolored water
The public is reminded to avoid contact with discolored water as it may indicate the presence of an algal bloom.
Oak Island beachgoers warned to avoid an area of ocean surf
State recreation water quality officials are advising beachgoers in Oak Island to stay away from an area of ocean surf where town officials have been pumping floodwaters caused by recent rainfall.
Swim advisory issued for Southport kayak launch area
Tests of water samples taken at the sound-side site indicate bacteria levels above state and federal recreational standards.
North Carolinians condemn EPA’s PFAS regulation delay
Advocates push state legislation as EPA scales back GenX and PFAS regulations.
