The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources is now accepting proposals statewide for projects that address stream restoration, water-based restoration and water management until June 30.

DWR is seeking proposals for projects through the current spring 2026 application cycle of the Water Resources Development Grant Program.  

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Energy Saver North Carolina program is now available in all 100 counties, helping eligible households lower energy bills. Residents can check eligibility and apply for rebates to improve home efficiency, with more than $200 million available for upgrades. 

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources is awarding more than $7.3 million to support repairs for several high-hazard dams that were damaged during Hurricane Helene.  

A high-hazard dam is defined as one where failure would likely result in loss of life or significant damage to homes, buildings, public utilities, primary highways or major railroads. 

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has released data from a preliminary study that found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances present in soil, wastewater and biosolids, the nutrient-rich organic material that remains after wastewater has been treated. The study is the agency’s first investigation assessing PFAS concentrations in biosolids across the state.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals widely found in commercial, industrial and consumer products. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and can build up in humans and animals. More information about PFAS can be found on DEQ’s website.

DWR staff began gathering samples in 2023 for the study, which evaluated PFAS concentrations in wastewater and biosolids from 37 municipal, industrial and domestic wastewater treatment facilities. Staff also tested soil collected from 19 fields that are regulated under non-discharge permits.

The study found PFAS compounds present in wastewater, biosolids and soil samples. Estimates found the majority of PFAS entering wastewater facilities on an annual basis is discharged into waterways, as compared with the amount entering the environment through land application of biosolids. An overview of the study, including background information and a summary of the results, is available online.

There are currently no federal or North Carolina state regulatory requirements for PFAS in biosolids. The study will inform future study design and identify opportunities for further data collection and analysis. Researching the movement of these chemicals in the environment was beyond the scope of the study.

North Carolinians continue to breathe the cleanest air in decades as emissions of harmful air pollutants like ozone and fine particles continue a long-running downward trend.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is publishing its latest update to the “Air Quality Trends in North Carolina” report.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has launched an online application form for Underground Storage Tank permits for newly constructed facilities. UST operators can access the feature through the AccessDEQ Portal, the department’s digital hub for permit applications. 

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint is partnering with the North Carolina Land and Water Fund to provide $1.1 million for three flood risk reduction projects located in Dunn, Clyde and Smithfield.  

In total, the projects will restore more than 1.29 miles of stream and 50 acres of floodplain as well as retrofit a pond to reduce flooding.   

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has launched the Western NC Recovery Grants Program to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene secure long-term recovery funding. The program offers free grant-writing and technical assistance to local governments, eligible nonprofits partnering with them, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians across 39 disaster-declared counties.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service is now accepting applications for the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant Program, which supports western North Carolina communities in rebuilding and strengthening waste reduction and recycling systems following Hurricane Helene. 

Gov. Josh Stein announced $6 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program to help reduce flood risks across the state. The announcement includes projects to restore the French Broad River Basin after western North Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene last fall.