(December 6, 2023, 1:50 PM EST) -- RALEIGH, N.C. — A trial court did not err in finding that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was not required to perform certain duties in approving animal waste management system permits to four industrial hog farms because the duties, identified by two environmental groups, are not mandatory under the statutes governing the permitting process at issue, a North Carolina appellate court panel found Dec. 5 in affirming the trial court’s judgment....