Source: NCDEQ, 1/26/21 The North Carolina Department
of Environmental Quality is taking enforcement actions against Chemours for
failing to meet conditions of the Consent Order and the NPDES wastewater
discharge permit related to the treatment system installed at Old Outfall 002
in September 2020.The treatment system is required in the
Consent Order to protect downstream communities by removing residual PFAS
contamination at the Fayetteville Works site that flows into the river. The Notice of Violation (NOV) issued today identifies
several instances of noncompliance. Design and operational problems in
September, October, and November of 2020 resulted in violations of the Consent
Order requirements to implement a fully operational system by the September 30
deadline and achieve a 99% removal efficiency. Violations of the NPDES
permit include exceeding an effluent limit, failure to meet flow requirements,
improper operation and maintenance, and failure to mitigate during storm events. “DEQ is committed to holding Chemours accountable, and ensuring they meet the requirements of the Consent Order and their permit conditions at all times,” said DEQ Secretary Michael S. Regan. “DEQ will continue to take all appropriate actions, from increased oversight to enforcement, to ensure the company meets its obligations to prevent PFAS from entering the Cape Fear River.” As of December 18, 2020, inspections and data
confirmed the treatment system at Old Outfall 002 is online and working as intended
to remove PFAS from the contaminated stream channel before it reaches the Cape
Fear River. The NPDES permit is limited to treatment of the contaminated
stream waters at Old Outfall 002. Since 2017, Chemours has been and is
still prohibited from discharging process wastewater. Earlier this month, DEQ issued an NOV for land-disturbance and stormwater
violations related to the installation of the Seep C treatment
system under the Consent Order. DEQ previously issued an NOV for improper disposal of
excavated soil during the construction of the treatment system at Old Outfall
002. DEQ will evaluate the responses and additional
information provided by Chemours in determining the civil penalties for all of
the violations cited above, as well as the assessment of the stipulated
penalties under the Consent Order. Copies of the NOVs and other documents related
to the Consent Order are available here: https://deq.nc.gov/ChemoursConsentOrder.
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