The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has completed its review of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Federal Consistency Determination and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Wilmington Harbor Section 403 Navigation Improvement Project. DCM objected to the Corps’ Consistency Determination, citing insufficient information about PFAS, flooding, and placement of dredged material to properly assess compliance with state coastal laws and policies.
DCM also found that available data indicated the project could have significant negative effects on coastal resources, including fisheries, communities vulnerable to erosion and shoreline instability, as well as state and historic properties.
While recognizing the North Carolina Ports Authority’s interest in the project and potential benefits, DCM stated it is willing to work with the Corps if federal action is postponed and dispute resolution processes are initiated. The agency emphasized its commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure responsible management of coastal resources.
“The Division of Coastal Management’s decision will protect public health from forever chemicals like PFAS and preserve treasured coastal resources in the lower Cape Fear River Basin,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “If the Army Corps of Engineers can make changes to its proposal to protect people’s health and the environment, we are at the table to continue this conversation.”
The process began when DCM received the federal Consistency Determination on October 17, 2025. The Corps asserted that its proposal was consistent with North Carolina’s Coastal Management program. A public hearing held in Wilmington saw unanimous opposition among attendees. Most written comments submitted during a formal comment period were also against the project, with concerns focused on environmental impacts such as PFAS disturbance.
Following an initial review, DCM informed the Corps about gaps in information regarding PFAS and flooding risks. In January 2026, at the request of the Corps and North Carolina Ports Authority, DCM paused its review for further discussion. After these discussions concluded without resolution, DCM resumed its evaluation in February 2026 before issuing its objection.
Information about this project and related decisions is available through DCM’s website.
The Department of Environmental Quality serves as a state agency dedicated to regulating and protecting North Carolina’s natural resources and environmental quality (official website). It provides services such as air quality regulation, permit issuance, enforcement of environmental laws, waste management oversight, and water resource management (official website). The department supports public education efforts aimed at fostering community awareness across North Carolina (official website), while promoting science-based stewardship for residents’ health and prosperity (official website). Its regulatory authority extends over air, land, water, and coastal environments throughout North Carolina (official website). The central office is located at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh (official website).
