CAMA permits are intended to protect the environment, public-trust rights and the economy of the North Carolina coast. To ensure that Coastal Resources Commission regulations are followed, Coastal Management employs a number of compliance tools. For example, DCM staff monitor projects that have received major or general permits to make sure they are being carried out correctly. Staff also conduct routine aerial surveillance to look for unauthorized activity and to monitor permitted development.

The division's most critical compliance tool is enforcement. Someone is determined to be in violation when they begin development in an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) without a valid CAMA permit or if any of their CAMA-permitted work does not comply with the issued permit. Once a violation has occurred, Coastal Management staff can issue a violation notice, halt development in progress, require restoration of the site and assess a penalty for the violation.

In dealing with violations, Coastal Management's first priority is to seek resource recovery through prompt, voluntary restoration of the damaged area. The division's enforcement authority allows the division to require restoration for activity that could not be permitted, and to assess civil penalties of up to $10,000 for unauthorized work. In addition, the CRC may also assess up to one-half the amount of the civil penalty, not to exceed $2,500 for major development violations or $1,000 for minor development violations, to recover the costs of investigations and enforcement involved with violations.

If you suspect a CAMA violation has occurred, contact the Compliance and Enforcement Representative Coastal Management office nearest you. Office numbers are available on the "Contact DCM" link at the top of this page.

Want to know more about enforcement? Check out the Enforcement FAQs and the Enforcement Process Flowchart (in PDF format).

CAMA violation notices: October 2009

The Division of Coastal Management issued the following violation notices during October. Penalties are not assessed at the time the violation notices are issued; they are assessed later.

Elizabeth City District:

Jeffrey Dowdy, Currituck County, unauthorized major development and violation of the State's dredge and fill law by installing a boat ramp, a boatlift, and a dock within the Estuarine Waters, Public Trust Area, and Coastal Shoreline AECs in and adjacent to the Currituck Sound.

Chris Merritt, Dare County, unauthorized major development and violation of the State's dredge and fill law by placing earthen fill material in coastal wetlands within the Coastal Wetlands AEC adjacent to the Albemarle Sound. contiguous with Pamlico Sound.

Karl Celtnieks and Tom Pascucci, Team Marine Construction (contractor), Currituck County, unauthorized major development by constructing a pier with a covered platform and mooring pilings within the Estuarine Waters and Public Trust Area AECs in the Albemarle Sound.

Paul Statler, Currituck County, unauthorized minor development by excavating and engaging in land disturbing activity within the Ocean Erodible Area AEC adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.

Art Smith, Perquimans County, violation of the terms and conditions of State Permit No. 47950A by installing more docking spaces than were authorized within the Estuarine Waters and Public Trust Area AECs in the Yeopim River.

Kenneth Henshaw, Page Development LLC, Pasquotank County, violation of the terms and conditions of State Permit No. 160-43 by constructing unauthorized boat slips contiguous to the permitted boardwalk and not constructing the boardwalks consistent with the approved development site plans within in the Estuarine Waters, Public Trust Area, and Coastal Shoreline AECs in a man-made canal contiguous to the Pasquotank River.

Morehead City District:

Tom Gualtieri and Curtis Estes, Estes Builders Inc. (contractor), Carteret County, violation of the terms and conditions of State Permit No. 54374C by designing the boathouse to allow second story use.

Bruce St. Antoine and Tom Gurganus (contractor), Craven County, unauthorized major development by constructing a boat ramp and installing pilings within the Estuarine Waters, Public Trust Area, and Coastal Shoreline AECs in the Neuse River.

Washington District:

None reported.

Wilmington District:

Lee Kanipe and Sel Drish, Utility Specialist Inc. (contractor), Brunswick County, unauthorized minor development by clearing, grading and placing earthen fill material within the OEA AEC adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.

Michael Kummer and Shan Snow (contractor), Pender County, violation of the terms and conditions of State Permit No. 52598D by constructing the piers and platforms inconsistent with the authorized site plan and the unauthorized installation of a boat lift within the Estuarine Waters, Public Trust Area, and Coastal Shoreline in the NE Cape Fear River.

2009 reports
2008 reports
2007 reports
2006 reports
2005 reports