By Erin Smith
Officials with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Health and Human Services will conduct a meeting Thursday, September 14, at 6 p.m. to discuss the planned testing of private wells near the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant in Bladen County. The information session will take place at St. Pauls Middle School located at 526 West Shaw Street, St. Pauls.
The information session will give residents the opportunity to ask questions and to sign up to have their wells tested. Last week it was learned that groundwater test wells located on the property of the Chemours plant were found to be contaminated with GenX. State officials must have a resident’s permission before they can test their well.
Officials say the samples that are gathered will be sent to Gel Laboratories in Charleston, S.C., to test for the presence of GenX, PFOA and PFOS (Nafion byproducts).
While state officials and Chemours continue to work towards resolving issues involving the discharge of GenX and Nafion tainted wastewater into the Cape Fear River, Bladen County officials have not ruled out the possibility of suing the state, according to Bladen County Commissioner Chairman Charles Ray Peterson.
“As long as the water is safe, we as a county will do what it takes to protect the industry,” said Bladen County Commissioner Chairman Charles Ray Peterson.
According to state officials, the water has been declared safe to drink. The levels of the chemical GenX found in the Cape Fear River have been declining and remain below the state health goal of 140 parts per trillion which was developed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Chairman Peterson said the Chemours plant employs 500 people and there is only one wastewater permit for the plant which is in Chemours name. Also using the same wastewater discharge are the companies DuPont Fayetteville Works and Kuraray America.
Chairman Peterson said, “If it comes to it, we will initiate a lawsuit against the state.”
He added county officials are hopeful state officials and Chemours can reach an agreement regarding the matter.
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