Public Notices
Pender County Planning secures discounted flood insurance premiums for qualifying residents
BURGAW – Effective Oct. 1, Pender County joined the Community Rating System (CRS) as a Class 7 community, resulting in a 15 percent discount on annual flood insurance premiums for flood insurance policy holders whose home is located within the Special Flood Hazard Area in unincorporated Pender County. Pender County is one of only 27 communities in the state to reach the status of Class 7.
The CRS is a voluntary, incentive-based program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
“This is a great honor, especially to join as a Class 7 community,” said Planning and Community Development Director, Travis Henley. “The application process was long and intense, but we are pleased with the results.”
Pender County earned credit for conducting public outreach regarding flood hazards and mitigating flood risk, preserving open space in the Special Flood Hazard Area, enforcing regulatory building standards exceeding the minimum federal requirements, and for floodplain management planning, among other activities.
“This will collectively save more than $100,000 in flood insurance premiums across the county, which is a big deal as many residents are still recovering from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence,” said Pender County Floodplain Administrator, Daniel Adams. “We will to continue to explore opportunities to provide information on flood risk and promote building practices that minimize vulnerability to future flood events.”
Policy holders can expect to see the 15 percent discount applied at their next policy renewal date.
More information on the Community Rating System can be found on the Pender County Planning and Community Development website, pendercountync.gov/pcd/.
“The efforts of Pender County’s Planning and Emergency Management Departments will result in significant reductions in flood insurance premiums,” said Chad McEwen, Pender County Manager. “We’re pleased we can deliver this level of savings to county property owners.”
DEQ seeks court approval of additional PFAS reductions by Chemours
RALEIGH – After reviewing public comments, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has filed the proposed Addendum to the Consent Order for entry by the Bladen County Superior Court. The motions hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, October 12 in Elizabethtown. The Addendum requires significant additional actions by Chemours to reduce the PFAS entering the Cape Fear River
through residual groundwater contamination at the Fayetteville Works site. These actions will improve water quality for downstream communities as the major pathways for PFAS pollution entering the Cape Fear River will be reduced by 99%.
“We will continue to apply pressure to this company to take responsibility for their actions. These necessary actions under the Consent Order will expand the relief provided to communities along the Cape Fear River by controlling the PFAS contamination at its source,” said Secretary Michael S. Regan. “At the same time, DEQ continues to support state and community leaders’ efforts on additional strategies to address the downstream impact of the contamination from Chemours.”
According to the Addendum, Chemours is required to install extensive remediation systems in two phases for the contaminated groundwater reaching the river.
• The interim measures to filter PFAS at an efficiency of at least 80% from the first of the four seeps will go into effect starting by Mid-November – with all four completed by April 2021.
• The permanent measure is the construction of a subsurface barrier wall approximately 1.5 miles long and groundwater extraction system that will remove at least 99% of PFAS to be completed by March 2023.
Chemours is also required to treat on-site stormwater with a capture and treatment system that must remove at least 99% of PFAS that currently discharge to the river.
Failure to meet the schedules or achieve the removal goals set out in the Addendum will result in financial penalties.
Since 2017, DEQ actions and the Consent Order between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and Chemours have stopped the process wastewater discharge from the facility and drastically reduced air emissions of PFAS by 99.9%. The additional actions required in the Addendum will further reduce the PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River and improve water quality for downstream communities.
DEQ published the Addendum to the Consent Order for public comment and reviewed those comments before filing the Addendum with the court. The
Department’s response to comments is available here.
The Addendum to the Consent Order, the 2019 Consent Order and related documents are available here.
Governor Cooper Moves North Carolina to Phase 3 with Stable Numbers
Safety precautions set for large outdoor and some indoor venues
RALEIGH: North Carolina will ease cautiously some restrictions while continuing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as the state’s metrics remained stable in September, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
“Our top priority remains getting children back to in-person learning. This month marks a major shift for many families now and in the coming months as schools open their doors, some for the first time since the pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “The virus continues to spread, so we must take the next steps methodically, and responsibly.”
“We must continue our hard work to slow the spread of this virus,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “By practicing the 3Ws — wear, wait and wash, — getting your flu shot, and downloading the SlowCOVIDNC app, each of us can protect the progress we have made.”
Dr. Cohen reviewed the state’s key metrics:
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness has a slight increase.
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is level.
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is level.
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is level.
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
No-cost testing events are being deployed across the state and testing turnaround times are improving. New contact tracers are bolstering the efforts of local health departments. A new NCDHHS app, SlowCOVIDNC, is notifying users of exposure to the virus. Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.
As these metrics and capacity remain stable, the state will ease some restrictions starting Friday. Executive Order 169 begins Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. and continues for three weeks through October 23. Its new provisions include:
• Large outdoor venues with seating greater than 10,000 may operate with 7% occupancy for spectators.
• Smaller outdoor entertainment venues, like arenas or amphitheaters, may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.
• Movie theaters and conference centers may open indoor spaces to 30% of capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.
• Bars may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.
• Amusement parks may open at 30% occupancy, outdoor attractions only.
• The limits on mass gatherings will remain at 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
• The 11 pm curfew on alcohol sales for in-person consumption in locations such as restaurants and outdoor bars will be extended to October 23.
State and public health officials will continue watching the key COVID-19 trends over the next several weeks to determine if any further restrictions can be eased when the current Executive Order expires October 23.
Read Executive Order 169.
Read the FAQs on Executive Order 169.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
Advertisement for Sealed Bids for the Sale of Real Property
ADVERTISEMENT FOR SEALED BIDS
SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
The Board of Commissioners of Pender County has authorized the sale by sealed bid of the following parcel of real property:
Pender County Parcel ID 3247-51-2755-0000 | Lot 99 Morgan Cove (1.34 Acres) | Minimum Bid: $12,111.45
Pender County Parcel ID 3247-52-1253-0000 | Lot 103 Morgan Cove (1 Acre) | Minimum Bid: $12,061.98
The county will accept sealed bids for the property until 3:00 P.M., Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the office of the county manager, Room 110, Pender County Administration Building, 805 South Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425. At 3:00 P.M., Thursday, October 15, 2020, all bids received shall be opened in public and the amount of each bid announced and recorded. The record of bids shall be reported to the Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, November 2, 2020.
The Board of Commissioners will determine the highest responsible bidder for the property and will award the bid by its regular meeting on November 2, 2020. Bids will remain open and subject to acceptance until the Board of Commissioners awards the bid.
Each bid must be accompanied by a bid deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid. A bid deposit may take the form of cash, a cashier’s check, a certified check, or a surety bond. The deposit of the bidder to whom the award is made will be held until sale of the property is closed; if that bidder refuses at any time to close the sale, the deposit will be forfeited to the county. The deposits of other bidders will be returned at the time the Board of Commissioners awards the property to the highest responsible bidder.
In order for a bid to be considered, the bidder must be current on payment of all property taxes owed to the county.
The county reserves the right to withdraw the property from sale at any time and the right to reject all bids.
Inquiries about the property and the sale may be made to the calling (910) 259-1200.
Public input meeting, Oct. 1
Residents are invited to bring their creative ideas to the Penderlea meeting, Oct. 1.
County Update, Sept. 18, 2020
What are the various county departments accomplishing? check out the bi-monthy County Update. County Update - September 18, 2020
NC DEQ issues permit to keep contaminants out of the Cape Fear River and reduce downstream impacts
RALEIGH – The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a permit for a water treatment system at the Chemours Fayetteville Works site to remove PFAS from a contaminated stream that currently flows into the Cape Fear River. To reduce impacts on downstream communities, the system is required to remove at least 99% of PFAS from the stream. According to the 2019 Consent Order between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and Chemours, the treatment system must be operational by September 30, 2020.
This permit does not apply to process wastewater, which Chemours is prohibited from discharging and has been prohibited from discharging since 2017. The treatment system is designed to remove PFAS from the stream referred to as Old Outfall 002 that carries PFAS from residual contamination at the site, including groundwater that flows from under the facility and through contaminated soil, into the Cape Fear River.
The permit requires testing of the influent and effluent to verify at least 99% percent removal efficiency, in addition to specific discharge limits. Based on public input, the final permit was adjusted to clarify that filter backwash from the treatment system must be collected and treated before discharge. Additional information on the permit is provided in the response to comments document posted with the final permit and fact sheet here.
“The treatment system will immediately reduce the amount of PFAS contamination reaching downstream communities,” said Assistant Secretary for the Environment Sheila Holman. “When combined with the measures required in the proposed Addendum to the Consent Order, communities along the Cape Fear River will continue to see additional PFAS reductions at their water intakes as each step is implemented in the months ahead.”
Since 2017, DEQ actions and the Consent Order have stopped the discharge of process wastewater to the Cape Fear River, identified and reduced air emissions by more than 99% and initiated groundwater remediation efforts. This treatment system permit is one of several measures in the Consent Order and proposed Addendum to address residual contamination and reduce PFAS pollution impacts to the Cape Fear River and downstream communities on an expedited basis. For instance, the proposed Addendum requires Chemours to install treatment systems to treat contaminated water flowing from under the facility through four surface water bodies, sometimes called “Seeps,” to the Cape Fear River. The schedule in the proposed Addendum requires installation of the first treatment system by November 16, 2020 and installation of the final treatment system by April 5, 2021.
Documents related to the Consent Order, including the proposed addendum are available online at: https://deq.nc.gov/ChemoursConsentOrder.
Integrated Family Services helps those in crisis, available to Pender County residents
Learn more about Integrated Family Services, to help family members in a crisis. This service is available to all Pender County residents in the Trillium Health Resource Area. Call them. Chat about relationships, self image, bullying, thoughts of suicide, family problems, and other issues causing stress, particularly now, during COVID-19 and job loss. Call 1-866-437-1821 today.
Public Schools now able to implement Plan A for elementary schools
RALEIGH: After several weeks of stable COVID-19 trends and continued low virus spread in school settings, Governor Roy Cooper today announced that beginning on October 5, North Carolina public school districts and charter schools can choose to implement Plan A for elementary schools (grades K-5). Plan A continues to include important safety measures like face coverings for all students, teachers and staff, social distancing, and symptom screening, but does not require schools to reduce the number of children in the classroom.
“We are able to open this option because most North Carolinians have doubled down on our safety and prevention measures and stabilized our numbers,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “North Carolinians are doing the hard work to improve our numbers and trends. Many people are wearing masks, keeping social distance and being careful to protect others as well as themselves. We have shown that listening to the science works. And I’m proud of our resolve.”
As the Governor announced in July, every district will continue to have flexibility to select Plan A, B or C based on their unique needs. In addition, districts should still provide an option for families to select all remote learning for their students. Read the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit to learn more about the requirements under each plan.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on North Carolina’s data trends. Dr. Cohen explained that North Carolina has seen a sustained leveling or decrease of key metrics.
“Our trends show that we are on the right track. It’s up to all of us to protect our progress. Our individual actions like those 3 Ws will help keep our school doors open.,” said Secretary Cohen.
Dr. Cohen also explained that as schools have opened, the current science shows that younger children are less likely to become infected, have symptoms, experience severe disease or spread the virus.
“It’s great news today that we are a step closer to providing the option of in-person learning to families who want their children to return to school,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson. “While the Governor, the State Board of Education, and I have our differences, I join with them today to encourage local school board members to take advantage of this change and open all schools safely. I thank the many parents and teachers across North Carolina who have been vocal advocates on this important issue.”
“For the past 6 months, superintendents, principals, teachers and local BOE have worked diligently to care for the safety of our students and staff while educating our children. While we are anxious to return all students, we know that teachers, principals, and students need a gradual transition over the next 3 months. I ask our parents to remain patient, knowing that we are moving as quickly as is safely possible. And I ask our teachers to continue to assist our students by supporting this deliberate, thoughtful transition,” said Eric Davis, Chairman of the State Board of Education.
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is declining.
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is declining.
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is declining.
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
• North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is declining.
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:
Laboratory Testing
• Access to testing has expanded. No-cost testing events are being deployed across the state and testing turnaround times have improved.
Tracing Capability
• Contact tracers continue to be hired to bolster the efforts of local health departments. A new exposure notification app will be launched soon.
Personal Protective Equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable
North Carolina education leaders gave statements in support of Governor Cooper’s announcement.
Mark Johnson, Superintendent of NC Department of Public Instruction: “It’s great news today that we are a step closer to providing the option of in-person learning to families who want their children to return to school. While the Governor, the State Board of Education, and I have our differences, I join with them today to encourage local school board members to take advantage of this change and open all schools safely. I thank the many parents and teachers across North Carolina who have been vocal advocates on this important issue.”
Eric Davis, Chair of NC State Board of Education: “For the past 6 months, superintendents, principals, teachers and local BOE have worked diligently to care for the safety of our students and staff while educating our children. While we are anxious to return all students, we know that teachers, principals, and students need a gradual transition over the next 3 months. I ask our parents to main patient, knowing that we are moving as quickly as is safely possible. And I ask our teachers to continue to assist our students by supporting this deliberate, thoughtful transition.”