The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has scheduled a meeting for the Shellfish Cultivation Lease Review Committee. The session is set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, at the Division’s Central District Office in Morehead City.
The committee will review three third-party challenges to shellfish leases that were approved by the Division Director on April 15. These requests have been submitted under N.C. General Statute 113-202(g). The meeting will be open to the public but will not include an opportunity for public comment.
During the proceedings, committee members will hear oral arguments from petitioners, Division staff, and lease applicants before deliberating and voting on each challenge.
The agenda includes three hearings:
In the first hearing, petitioner Thomas Peralto is challenging a lease application by C.I. Salts Oyster Company, LLC, represented by agent Ralph Brittingham. This involves a 4.22-acre bottom and water column lease in North Bay, with the petition received on April 23.
The second hearing involves petitioner Merleon Creech contesting a lease applied for by Jacob Milchuck for a 6.17-acre bottom and water column lease in Adams Creek. This petition was received on May 15.
The third hearing also concerns Jacob Milchuck’s application for another lease in Adams Creek of identical size and location as in Hearing 2, with Corey McMahon as the petitioner. This petition was also received on May 15.
A public hearing for each lease took place earlier this year on March 13.
Further details about the meeting can be accessed online at: https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/events/shellfish-lease-review-committee-hear-three-third-party-challenges.
