Source: NCDEQ, 9/21/21 The N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality is accepting public comment on the Draft Coastal Habitat Protection Plan 2021 Amendment and Appendix. The Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP) is a long-term strategy
to improve coastal fisheries through habitat protection and enhancement
efforts. The CHPP, which must be approved by the Environmental Management
Commission, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Coastal Resources
Commission, provides
information on habitat distribution and abundance, ecological functions and
importance to fish production, status and trends, threats to the habitats, and
includes recommendations to address those threats.
The draft CHPP amendment focuses on
recommendations to address five priority issues:
1. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Protection and
Restoration through Water Quality Improvements; 2. Wetlands Protection and Restoration through
Nature-based Solutions; 3. Environmental Rule Compliance to Protect
Coastal Habitats; 4. Wastewater Infrastructure Solutions for
Water Quality Improvement; and 5. Coastal Habitat Mapping and Monitoring to
Assess Status and Trends. The public may comment on the draft amendment in three ways:
- Submit Comments Online – Public comments will be accepted through an online survey until 5 p.m. on Oct. 21. Click here to submit comments online.
- Mail Comments – Written comments may be mailed to CHPP 2021 Amendment Comments, P.O Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557. Comments must be received by the division 5 p.m. on Oct. 21.
- Sign Up to Speak at an Advisory Committee
Meeting – Public comment will be accepted at the five Marine
Fisheries Commission advisory committee meetings listed below. Those who
wish to speak at the meetings must register by 5 p.m. the day before the
meeting. The committees will meet
by web conference as follows:
Southern Regional
Advisory Committee
Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
Register to Speak
by 5 p.m. Oct. 11
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Northern Regional
Advisory Committee
Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
Register to Speak
by 5 p.m. Oct. 12
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Finfish Advisory
Committee
Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.
Register to Speak
by 5 p.m. Oct. 13
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Shellfish/Crustacean
Advisory Committee
Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.
Register to Speak
by 5 p.m. Oct. 18
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Habitat & Water Quality
Advisory Committee
Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.
Register to Speak
by 5 p.m. Oct. 19
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Emailed comments will not be accepted.
Meeting links and agendas are available on
the CHPP Public Comment Period webpage.
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