Chemours Still Discharging Toxic Slew of GenX, Nafion and Other Chemicals

Chemours' lawyer signed a Partial Consent Order September 8, 2017, in which the following orders were decreed (among others):

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In other words, they agreed to CONTINUE their so-called "good faith effort" to stop discharge of GenX (the wastewater of which also contains a slew of other PFAS compounds) and IMMEDIATELY PREVENT discharge of Nafion byproducts 1 & 2.  

Yet, we learned yesterday (Oct. 30), that the EPA released a report showing the following in wastewater samples taken Sept. 18 at locations around the Fayetteville Works plant and at the Huske Dam on the Cape Fear River, about 50 miles upstream of the CFPUA water intakes:

  • GenX levels ranging from 265 parts per trillion to 8,860 ppt (DHHS published a risk assessment of 140 ppt)
  • Other GenX process-related compounds (PFMOAA, PFocHxA, PF030A)  ranging from non-detect to 24,600 ppt (no risk assessment available)
  • Nafion byproducts 1 & 1 (which toxicologists fear are more toxic than GenX) ranging from non-detect to 34,800 parts per trillion (no risk assessment available)

While these levels will  decrease as the compounds flow downriver and eventually reach faucets, these results seem to indicate that:

1). Chemours did not immediately stop discharge of the byproducts from the manufacturing of Nafion as ordered by Superior Court Sept. 8; and, 

2). Chemours did NOT capture 100% of GenX (and sister compounds related to the same processes) as it reported it would, beginning June 21, per the letter their lawyers sent DEQ September, 8 (clip below):

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Chemours seems to have disregarded the court order.  Please bombard Chemours with calls and emails and let them know we're paying attention: 

 

REMINDER of FREE WATER ALTERNATIVE:
In light of yesterday's news about HIGH levels of toxins found by EPA - AFTER Chemours agreed in a court of law to immediately stop these discharges - we'd like to remind folks of free water alternative. Below is extracted from the CFPUA website. If you find this service is not providing as described, please let us know.

"Residential CFPUA customers may fill their clean personal containers at New Hanover County’s Ogden Park near the tennis courts at 615 Ogden Park Drive from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

"For citizens unable to get to the water station at 615 Ogden Park Drive, CFPUA is partnering with the City of Wilmington and area churches to provide free water from Ogden Park.

"Churches will transport empty containers to Ogden Park where they will be filled with treated groundwater at no cost. Church volunteers will then bring the filled containers back to the designated churches, where customers can pick them up. Churches will be open for drop off between 9:00 am and 11:00 am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and for pick up between 1:00 pm and 3:00 p.m. on the same days.

"Three churches in the greater downtown area will be offering drop-off and pick-up services:

Warner Temple AME Zion Church, 620 Nixon St., (910) 763-6308
St. Phillip AME Church, 815 N. 8th St., (910) 762-3573
Ephesus SDA Church, 1002 Castle St., (910) 762-7755"

EPA FINDINGS - SEPT 18 SAMPLES: 

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