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Source: NCDEQ, 9/18/20 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.
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