Chemours’ plan doesn’t comply with state law

Chemours’ cleanup plan does not even attempt to comply with state law or the consent order it agreed to, and would leave highly contaminated groundwater in the ground to pollute the Cape Fear River for decades to come, SELC and Cape Fear River Watch told the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality in comments submitted today.

“The Cape Fear River is the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians” says Kemp Burdette, the Cape Fear Riverkeeper. “Those communities shouldn’t have to wonder if ongoing pollution from Chemours is going to make them sick.”

In its plan, Chemours proposes to leave groundwater contaminated by industrial chemicals onsite and do little to stop pollution from flowing off-site into the Cape Fear River. DEQ must ensure that Chemours—not nearby families and downstream communities already burdened by exposure and health risks—pays the costs to clean up its pollution.

Burdette continues, “Chemours’ plan doesn’t protect North Carolinians – all it does is protect Chemours’ bottom line. That’s shameful and illegal.”

SELC is asking DEQ to require that Chemours clean up its GenX and other PFAS pollution as required under state law and a consent order.

“Chemours polluted 45,000 acres of groundwater with toxic chemicals and contaminated the public water supplies for decades, yet now it proposes to avoid doing what’s needed to protect people and communities,” says Senior Attorney Geoff Gisler. “Chemours must put the health of North Carolinians living near the facility, the Cape Fear River, and downstream communities ahead of its bottom line.”

DEQ is accepting public comments on Chemours’ inadequate proposal until April 6, 2020. Comments can be sent to [email protected].