Chemours Violates PFAS Settlements, Endangers Drinking Water for Hundreds of Thousands North Carolinians
Environmental watchdog group Cape Fear River Watch has put giant PFAS polluter Chemours on notice that it must abide by a key 2019 settlement agreement mandating cleanup of PFAS from its Fayetteville plant or face legal action.
On behalf of Cape Fear River Watch, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) notified Chemours that the company is violating settlements that were negotiated to address PFAS contamination from its Fayetteville Works facility. The notice identifies ongoing violations related to Chemours’ air emissions, groundwater contamination, and failure to reduce PFAS pollution to nearby rivers, including the Cape Fear River, a drinking water source for more than 500,000 people.
“Chemours’ violations endanger families and communities from its ongoing PFAS pollution and cannot continue,” said Jean Zhuang, SELC senior attorney. “With people suffering, it’s past time for Chemours to be held accountable.”
Chemours Knowingly Polluted Drinking Water For 50 Years
Kemp Burdette, executive director of Cape Fear River Watch, called out the company for these violations. “Chemours knowingly contaminated the drinking water of half a million North Carolinians – for half a century – with toxic PFAS chemicals,” he said. “When we found out, we sued the company to make them stop. But, Chemours is breaking their word – they are violating the consent order and continuing to pollute our air and water with forever chemicals. We demand that NCDEQ use its authority to hold Chemours accountable and force the company to protect people’s health and the environment. If the state fails to protect its citizens, and chooses to protect Chemours instead, we’ll go back to court.”
A Chemours spokesperson declined to comment on the specific charges on grounds that they could be the subject of litigation.
Just two weeks ago, Chemours and two associated companies settled a lawsuit brought against them by NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson on behalf of the state of North Carolina and impacted local governments over PFAS pollution. The polluting companies agreed to pay a total of $590 million, a record environmental damages claims settlement in NC.