On Wednesday the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s public comment period on a proposed court order against Chemours will end. That order would require the company to implement measures to eliminate or reduce air emissions and water impacts caused by GenX and related compounds from their Fayetteville facility.
The proposed order would require Chemours to reduce facility-wide air emissions of GenX compounds by at least 97 percent by the end of August, and a 99 percent reduction by the end of next year.
In addition, it would force the company to conduct re-testing of private drinking wells on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis, depending on the level of GenX compounds initially detected.
Chemours would also have to provide permanent alternative water supplies or treatment systems to households impacted by groundwater contamination, and conduct toxicity studies relating to human health and aquatic life impacts from chemicals at the facility.
Lastly the order would require Chemours to coordinate with downstream public water utilities when there is the possibility of a discharge of GenX compounds into the Cape Fear River above the current state health goal of 140 parts per trillion.
Upon conclusion of the public comment period, DEQ will see whether changes to the proposed order are needed and if so, submit a revised order to the court.
DEQ intends to ask the court at that time to issue the order.