The DEAO environmental assistance coordinators focus on the needs of citizens, local governments and businesses who are frequently affected by environmental rules. Environmental assistance coordinators serve as a single point of contact and help streamline regulatory and permitting processes.

• Do you have questions about permitting? For more information and to contact an environmental assistance coordinator in your area Click here.
• Express Permitting: An option for clients who want quicker permitting decisions.
• NCDENR Permit Handbook: A resource that centralizes all of the department's permit information.
• Permit Toolbox: Provides additional permitting guidance materials in easy to understand language.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural resources has several programs in place to promote sustainability efforts across the state. For more information, visit the links below or contact the EAC.

• For Regulated entities: The N.C. Environmental Stewardship Initiative
• For State and Local Government: N.C. Project Green
• For the Hospitality Sector: The N.C. Green Travel Initiative
• For DENR Employees: N.C. DENR Sustainability Team
• For Education: N.C. DENR Office of Environmental Education Sustainability Resources Library

The DENR Environmental Assistance Center (EAC) staff of environmental professionals offers free energy saving information, resources, references, and on-site assistance to help organizations save energy, money and reduce ienvironmental impacts.  Contact the EAC for on-site assistance options.

Resources

• Energy Efficiency  Information and Resources
• N.C. Project Green - a resource for government agencies
• Waste Reduction Partners - offers on-site energy audits

The EAC offers the following services:

• Energy audits and problem solving
• Compressed air leak audits
• Proven no-cost and low-cost energy saving tips and ideas
• Factsheets, self assessment guides and manuals
• information and resources on building energy management savings
• Energy related regulatory and tax break information

The Environmental Assistance Center offers resources and technical assistance to help comply with water regulations and use water efficiently. Contact the EAC for on-site assistance options.

Water Use

• Drought monitoring in North Carolina.
• Water efficiency in North Carolina.
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional water efficiency guidance.

Water Discharge

• Industrial / categorical dischargers to Publicly Owned Treatment Works
• Point-Source wastewater dischargers
• Marina compliance and best management practices.
• Stormwater dischargers
• Wetland and buffer adjacent projects

Water Guidance

• WaterSense at Work
• EPA's WaterSense for the most efficient water using fixtures.
• Management of Discharge of Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG).
• Well outreach materials

Water Services

• Water efficiency audit to find further opportunities to reduce consumption and permanently eliminate water waste.
• On-Site Waste reduction auditing to minimize effluent pollutant concentration.

The DENR Environmental Assistance Center (EAC) staff of environmental professionals offers assistance to help initiate or expand waste reduction and recycling efforts. Below are some key resources and contacts to help with those efforts:

• Recycling Markets Directory - Use this directory to find outlets and services to recycle a wide range of waste materials.
• NC Waste Trader - Free service to list available and wanted discarded and surplus materials.
• Local Government Assistance - Resources, tools, and information to support local recycling programs and links to local solid waste and recycling contacts.
• Waste Assessments - Free on-site evaluations of waste generation and reduction and recycling options available through the Waste Reduction Partners program
• N.C. Project Green - Services and resources available to help local and state governmental agencies in North Carolina become more environmentally sustainable through waste, water, and energy reduction and green procurement.
• General Recycling Assistance - If you have any questions or need information on reducing waste and recycling, please contact the Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach or call: (877) 623-6748.
• Regulatory Issues - If you have questions about laws, rules, and policies on waste issues, please contact the Division of Waste Management at (919) 707-8200.

The DENR Environmental Assistance Center (EAC) staff of environmental professionals offers free, non-regulatory and confidential assistance to small businesses for complicated permitting and compliance issues. For assistance, contact the EAC or (919) 707-8112.

Exemptions/General Permits

We'll help you discover the least time-consuming, least costly, and least complicated permit status for which you qualify.

Industry Sectors/Categories

We have tailored information specific to those sectors comprised of predominantly small businesses such as Autobody and Drycleaning

Zoning Consistency Determination

Here you'll find templates to complete this confusing step in the air quality application process.

Since the mid-1980's, DENR has offered free and confidential pollution prevention services throughout North Carolina to public and private facilities. Pollution prevention is the elimination of pollution and waste from a process through increasing efficiency, reducing the use of toxic materials, reducing resources consumed in the process, and re-using waste where possible.  A P2 program is a strong basis for environmental sustainability.  To schedule a mulit-media P2 assistance please contact the EAC.

Pollution prevention has obvious benefits, including monetary savings, environmental protection, risk reduction and improved public image.

The EAC offers the following services:

• Multi-media waste assessments
• Water audits
• Energy audits
• Compressed air leak audits
• Dumpster dives/ solid waste audits
• Environmental Management System development assistance (for members of the ESI program)
• Compliance problem solving