The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is preparing to take additional steps against Chemours after an increase in the level of GenX was found in the Cape Fear River in October. The department is prepared to take additional enforcement action, according to a release.
DEQ officials have visited the Chemours site and have spoken with officials at the plant after receiving data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicating the GenX levels were increasing at the primary discharge for Chemours Fayetteville facility.
It is reported plant officials told DEQ investigators that a spill ocurred on October 6th from a manufacturing line. It was reported Chemours officials identified the chemical spilled as dimer acid fluoride and they told DEQ investigators the compound spilled from a line during planned maintenance at the plant. The compound is used in the manufacture of GenX.
“We are determining all appropriate enforcement actions based on violations that have been committed, and we will continue to investigate and hold the company accountable,” said Sheila Holman, assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
Testing of homeowners wells in the vicinity of the plant is continuing. Currently 128 residential wells have been tested by Chemours and the Department of Environmental Quality since testing near the facility began in September. Of the 128 wells tested, 43 had detections of GenX below the health goal of 143 parts per trillion established by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Chemours officials met with Bladen County officials this week and discussed options for providing water to residents with contaminated wells near the plant. One option being studied is for Bladen County to provide water to Cumberland County.
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