The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has slapped a Notice of Violation on Chemours in Fayetteville. The DEQ notice cites the company’s failure to follow through on directives issued two months ago, in and around the facility.
In December, DEQ directed Chemours to "terminate or control the sources of contamination and mitigate onsite hazards."
The company did not.
This week’s DEQ notice requires immediate action. Specifically, it orders Chemours to excavate, treat or control all stormwater and wastewater ditches. Remove, treat or control other known sources that could be causing contamination. Clean potentially contaminated equipment and capture any wastewater, and reduce or eliminate air emissions that are contributing to groundwater contamination.
Michael Scott is DEQ’s Waste Management Director.
“So when we issue a notice of violation, and it has not been completely responded to, or all the requirements of a notice of violation have not been satisfied, then often times that notice of violation will continue to be in effect or in this instance a second NOV will be sent specifically directing immediate action.”
Chemours is required to install new technology to reduce air emissions and is testing carbon filter systems for the drinking water wells near the facility. DEQ says 151 wells near the Chemours facility have levels of GenX above the health goal. The company is providing residents who rely on those wells with bottled water.
Chemours has two weeks to respond to the notice.