The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management announced on May 13 that it will hold a spring training workshop for local permit officers from the central and southern regions of its 20 coastal county service area. The workshop is scheduled for May 20-21 in Swansboro.
The event aims to support cooperative efforts between state and local governments under the Coastal Area Management Act, which enables local authorities to process minor permits directly. This approach allows communities to play an active role in managing their own coastal resources while offering additional services to residents.
During the workshop, participants will receive updates on CAMA rules and policies, minor permit processing procedures, legal requirements including notifications for adjacent riparian property owners, and changes related to major permits. Other topics include planning and resiliency initiatives through the Planning and Resilient Coastal Communities Program, riparian buffer regulations, compliance strategies, enforcement practices, and fieldwork focused on identifying various types of wetlands as well as important coastal boundaries such as normal high water marks and dune systems.
According to the department’s announcement, locally adopted Implementation and Enforcement Plans are a key part of ensuring that local governments can manage CAMA minor permits within their jurisdictions. This not only increases efficiency but also strengthens public service at the community level.
More information about different types of permits issued by the Division of Coastal Management is available online.
