DENR Reopens Facilities; Eastern Field Offices to Remain Open Through The Weekend
RALEIGH -- Several Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ field offices and other facilities in eastern North Carolina have reopened and will remain open through the weekend to help communities recover from Hurricane Bonnie damage.
“We have been diligently working to get things up and running in our field offices and making arrangements to continue providing services Saturday and Sunday,” DENR Secretary Wayne McDevitt said. “Administrative staff will be operating our offices, and environmental inspectors will be out in the field investigating problems and providing whatever support is necessary to help coastal residents and local governments.”
McDevitt flew over and visited storm-stricken areas today with Department of Transportation Secretary Norris Tolson. DENR environmental inspectors have been conducting air surveillance and field inspections today and plan to continue similar efforts throughout the weekend. The state’s Rapid Response Teams in New Bern and Washington have also been out monitoring water quality in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers. Thus far, environmental damage from Hurricane Bonnie appears to be less severe than expected.
The following DENR offices have reopened and will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday:
Wilmington Regional Office - (910) 395-3900;
Washington Regional Office - (252) 946-6481;
Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices in Morehead City - (252) 726-7021;
Division of Coastal Management district offices in Elizabeth City (252) 264-3901; Washington (252) 946-6481; Morehead City (252) 808-2808, and Wilmington (910) 395-3900.
The DENR regional offices provide office space for field inspectors in the divisions of Water Quality, Air Quality, Land Resources, Waste Management and Environmental Health. The Coastal Management offices in Elizabeth City, Wilmington, Washington and Morehead City provide assistance to property owners who need permits to rebuild following the hurricane. For rebuilding information, property owners should call the Coastal Management district office in their area, or call 1-888-4RCOAST.
Some of the state’s parks and recreation areas and the three state aquariums (Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores and Fort Fisher) are still closed due to storm damage. (See attached status report on state parks and recreation areas). The aquarium on Roanoke Island will reopen Saturday at 9 a.m. and the aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will reopen Sunday at 9 a.m. However, the two nature trails at Pine Knoll Shores will remain closed until further notice because of downed debris. The aquarium at Fort Fisher will remain closed until the surrounding communities lift access restrictions and cleanup around the facility is completed. The three aquariums sustained only minor damage.
# # #
August 28
Return to Press Release Page.