North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has announced a public hearing regarding proposed shellfish leases in Craven County. The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, and will take place both in-person at the Craven Community College - Havelock Campus and online via Webex.

Jacob Milchuck has submitted an application for a 9.05-acre shellfish bottom and water column lease in Adams Creek, identified as 24-003BL/24-004WC. The area will be marked accordingly to indicate its status as a proposed lease site.

Public comments on this lease application can be made either in person during the hearing or through Webex. Those wishing to provide comments online are encouraged to pre-register by visiting deq.nc.gov/news/events/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. In-person attendees should sign up between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the day of the hearing.

Additional information related to the public hearing, including web conference links, call-in numbers, presentation slides, and biological investigation reports, is available at deq.nc.gov/news/events/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing.

Written comments on the proposed leases will also be accepted until 6 p.m., Thursday, April 3. These can be submitted online via a form found at deq.nc.gov/craven-county-shellfish-lease-hearing-comment-form or mailed to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries at P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557.

For further details, Marla Chuffo from the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section can be contacted at (252) 515-5480 or marla.chuffo@deq.nc.gov.