Area of Environmental Concern UPDATE

The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge is both disappointed and concerned with the decision on April 11, 2024 by the Rules Review Commission to not adopt the temporary rules put forward by the Coastal Resources Commission, including the Area of Environmental Concern (AEC), which gave protections for the preservation of Jockey’s Ridge. Friends of Jockey’s Ridge remains steadfast in its commitment to support, enhance and promote Jockey’ Ridge State Park as a significant geologic feature of the Outer Banks, North Carolina and will continue to support efforts to meet this mission going forward.

In response to the October 15, 2024 public hearing held at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge Chairman of the Board, Craig Honeycutt, submitted comments in support of the proposed Coastal Resources Commission rule to re-designate Jockey’s Ridge as an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC).

On April 25, 2024, we attended the NC Coastal Resources Commission with these comments: Friends of Jockey’s Ridge letter to the CRC 4/25/24

On April 4, 2024, ahead of the April 8th meeting of the Rules Review Commission, Friends of Jockey’s Ridge submitted comments to the Rules Review Commission again expressing strong support for the temporary rules adopted by the Coastal Resources Commission, including the AEC designation.

On January 22, 2024, Friends of Jockey’s Ridge submitted comments to the Coastal Resource Commission urging the commissioners to readopt the AEC status for Jockey’s Ridge.

To learn more about the Area of Environmental Concern and the recent process to remove this status from Jockey’s Ridge, please visit the Coastal Review Article.

Review 15A NCAC 07H .0507 designating Jockey’s Ridge a unique coastal geologic formation.