Source: NCDEQ, 11/3/21 The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is
taking two actions requiring Chemours to address GenX and PFAS contamination
originating from the Fayetteville Works Facility and affecting private well
owners. First, Chemours must assess the extent of contamination in
downstream communities to include well sampling and provision of replacement
drinking water supplies. "The contamination from Chemours extends down the Cape Fear River into multiple communities and Chemours’ actions to address that contamination must reach those communities as well,” said DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “DEQ will continue to take the necessary steps to provide relief to affected North Carolinians as the science and regulations require.” DEQ has determined that Chemours is responsible for contamination
of groundwater monitoring wells and water supply wells in New Hanover County
and potentially Pender, Columbus, and Brunswick counties. Chemours is required
to expand the off-site assessment required under the 2019 Consent Order to
determine the extent of the contamination. Chemours must also
conduct sampling of private drinking water wells to identify residents who may
be eligible for replacement drinking water supplies. Chemours must submit plans
to DEQ for approval. Second, Chemours is required to review existing well sampling in
communities surrounding the Fayetteville Works facility to determine additional
eligibility for whole house filtration and public water, in light of the
revised Toxicity Assessment for GenX from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). Chemours has been advised that EPA will be releasing a federal
drinking water health advisory level for GenX in the coming months. In
Paragraph 19, the
2019 Consent Order requires Chemours to provide replacement permanent drinking water to private wells with “detections
of GenX compounds in exceedance of 140 ng/L, or any
applicable health advisory, whichever is lower.” In advance of a likely EPA health advisory level below 140 ng/l,
DEQ is requiring Chemours to review existing well sampling data to identify
residents who would be entitled to public water or whole house filtration under
a revised health advisory level. Chemours must revise the assessment of
public water feasibility for all affected residents under a lower health
advisory level. DEQ is also requiring Chemours to develop a plan to
transition residents who have previously received reverse osmosis systems based
on GenX results to either public water or whole house filtrations systems as
appropriate under a lower GenX health advisory level. Copies of the notifications to Chemours are available online here.
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