Chemours' plan to clean up forever chemicals in NC is ‘deficient,' state DEQ says
A chemical corporation that knowingly leaked forever chemicals into North Carolina’s air and water for decades has been working on a long-term plan to clean up its mess. But now, state environmental officials say the company’s cleanup plan has stalled and doesn’t go far enough to remove toxic chemicals as required by law. The chemicals have spread through rivers and groundwater in the Fayetteville region, the lower Cape Fear River basin and throughout major aquifers that supply water to southeastern North Carolina. In comments sent to the chemical company Chemours on Monday, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality identified nearly 40 specific ways that Chemours needs to expand or strengthen its cleanup plan. “Today’s direction to the company makes clear that DEQ expects Chemours to clean up all the areas they have polluted,” DEQ secretary Reid Wilson said in a Monday news release. “DEQ will hold Chemours accountable no matter how long it takes.” PFAS, known as forever chemicals for their inability to break down in the environment, can be extremely toxic to human health when consumed at high concentrations. PFAS have been found to increase the risk of some cancers, weaken the immune system, and cause reproductive and developmental
