Officials in Ocean Isle Beach seek federal approval to have up to 70,000 cubic yards of sand placed east of the Brunswick County town’s terminal groin where erosion gnaws at the shoreline in front of a luxury neighborhood.
Coastal Policy
Causey urges council to help Outer Banks as more homes fall
“There’s some angry people out there,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey told members of the Council of State Tuesday, referring to the four houses that fell into the ocean last weekend, a total of 31 homes since 2020, and calls to end the ban on beach hardening.
Division OKs Corps’ request to pause state consistency review
The N.C. Division of Coastal Management has granted a request by the Corps of Engineers to indefinitely pause the division’s review of whether the proposed project conforms with state coastal management program laws, regulations and policies.
CRC votes on language, again, to protect Jockey’s Ridge
The Coastal Resources Commission during its regular meeting last week voted on proposed language that changes the “Description” of Jockey’s Ridge to the “Designation” in an attempt to satisfy the most recent Rules Review Commission’s objection.
Sand is vanishing on east side of Ocean Isle’s $11M erosion fix
Environmental advocates and federal documents warned of it, but now that erosion has accelerated east of the town’s terminal groin and in front of newly built multimillion-dollar houses, property owners and developers want answers and solutions, quickly.
EMC moves groundwater standards, wetlands rules ahead
The N.C. Environmental Management Commission voted Thursday to send a groundwater standard rule for PFAS to the Rules Review Commission and a rule that defines wetlands in the state to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Appeals period to begin for Jacksonville’s revised flood maps
Jacksonville recently hosted an informational open house on the proposed updated flood studies and revisions to the 2016 flood insurance rate maps that the city appealed.
Fledgling commercial fisheries group looks to boost industry
The North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition, formed in response to the recently proposed ban on shrimp trawling in state waters, met for the first time this week in Morehead City, drawing numerous state and local elected officials.
Proponents of Leland flood zone rules say it’s a moral issue
Advocates of the Brunswick County town’s proposal to strengthen and expand flood zone building rules say officials must ensure they are not putting property owners, emergency personnel in danger.
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.
Oak Island residents say oceanfront lots unsuited for homes
Oak Island homeowners who have watched across the street as the protective oceanfront dune created by beach nourishment washed away time after time are pleading with officials to bar houses from being built there.
Coastal Commission rejects effort to drop rules lawsuit
Coastal Resources Commissioner Jordan Hennessy garnered only two other votes last week for his effort to withdraw from the commission’s successful lawsuit challenging the state Rules Review Commission, which is set to appeal the ruling.
Coastal commission OKs limited use of wheat straw bales
The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission has changed an oceanfront development rule to allow wheat straw bales be used under certain conditions as an alternative to sand fencing to try and fend off erosion, a move environmental and wildlife groups oppose.
Moratoriums threaten aquaculture, environment, say farmers
Shellfish farmers say their industry’s positive benefits have been proven elsewhere in the country, but holds on new state aquaculture leases and a moratorium that Topsail Island residents want could sink businesses.
Plan aims to curb shellfish lease conflicts, moratorium fervor
Concerns over damping the state’s growing aquaculture industry amid a push for a halt to new leases by leaders of Topsail Island three towns have sparked a proposal to create a GIS tool to improve site selection.
EPA targets remaining federal isolated wetlands protections
New Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is pursuing a definition for the waters of the United States “that is simple, that is durable and it will withstand the test of time.”
