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6/9/2017 Local officials respond to presence of GenX in Cape Fear water
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Local officials respond to presence of GenX in Cape Fear water
Fingers pointed at Chemours, regulators
By Robbie Greenspan StarNews Correspondent
Posted Jun 8, 2017 at 4:34 PM
Updated Jun 8, 2017 at 5:30 PM
WILMINGTON -- Shock. Surprise. Anger. Frustration.
Those were some of the reactions from local officials Thursday after the StarNews reported that GenX, an
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unregulated chemical produced by Chemours Co. at a plant near Fayetteville, is flowing into the Cape Fear Public
Utility Authority's (CFPUA) water system -- with no way for the utility to filter it out.
While everyone agreed more information about the situation was needed, including just how dangerous GenX is to
humans, some believe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should close the polluting plant
immediately.
Woody White, chairman of the New Hanover County Commissioners: "If anyone illegally discharged
unregulated substances, they could be held criminally and civilly liable.... There are very few things, if any, more
important than drinking water supply. CFPUA monitors on a daily basis our drinking water and it performs
consistently at high levels of safety and purity. It is important to establish what the facts are first.
httpJ/www.starnewsonline.com/newsl2Ol7O6D8Aocal-officials-respond-to-presence-of-genx-in-cape-fear-water 1/3
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Local officials respond to presence of GenX in Cape Fear water
"Questions need to be answered. An investigation will show whether it was willfully discharged by who at what
levels. I want to be clear, no one is accusing this company or any company of crimes. That is the purpose of the
investigation.I would like to see our regulators at the state and local level turn immediate attention to this.
"If any company has discharged compounds into Cape Fear River, they need to come forward.
"I initiated a phone call with the federal authorities and they took my call and listened. It's my hope that those
empowered with investigation and enforcement authority will follow established procedures for getting to the
bottom of what, if anything, has happened and inform the public as soon as possible."
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo: "(The story) was the first I heard of (GenX).
The company who has released the toxins needs to stop until we know exactly the levels and effects. I hope the EPA
comes down on this. The company is at fault. According to the report, they can manufacture GenX but they cannot
release it.
"(The company is at fault for) not having understanding of what chemical can do. See what happened in Flint,
Michigan? We need to make them stop releasing anything with chemicals into Caper Fear River. I want the EPA to
go to them today and tell them to stop releasing any chemicals into the Caper Fear River.
"It is (the company's) responsibility to stop putting chemicals into the water system."
Kevin O'Grady, Wilmington councilman and member of CFPUA board: "I had only heard about (GenX) in
the last few days when the board made us aware. It falls on the plant putting it into the river. I want the EPA to take
action... and I want the public to know the water they are drinking is up to standard."
Charles H. Rivenbark Jr., Wilmington Councilman and member of CFPUA board: "We test the water eight
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ways from Sunday. We provide safe drinking, we always have and we will continue to do so.
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http://www starnewsonline com/news/20170606/local-officials-respond-to-presence-of-genx-irr-cape-fear-water
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6/9/2017 Local officials respond to presence of GenX in Cape Fear water
"The people putting (GenX) into the water supply are (responsible) and should be held responsible for getting it out.
(I would like to see) the EPA and state look at it and give how many parts per million or parts per billion is
considered safe."
Reporter Robbie Greenspan can be readied at 443-995-7490 or at �a StarNewsOnline.com.
httpJ/www.starnewsonline.com/newsl2Ol7O6O8Aor.al-officials-respond-to-presence-of-gerx-in-cape-fear-water 3/3
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First, it is important to point out a few misconceptions stated in the article —
• The article starts off by implying that the replacement chemical is a carcinogen
As stated in Mei Sun's and the Knappe paper, "Except for a few studies (most by the manufacturer),
little is known about the toxicity, pharmacokinetic behavior, or environmental fate and transport of
PFECAs.
• C8 and GenX are not the same thing. j 11—f` �O 3 #J-- �� '44--
GenX is an emerging contaminant and like many emerging contaminants we simple know very little
about it and have little toxicology data on it.
• EPA established a health advisory for PFOA + PFOS (combined) not C8 as stated in the article.
The 70 parts per trillion health advisory'for PFOA + PFOS combined cannot be directly equated to GenX
samples (it's like comparing an apple standard to an orange).
The article did correctly state:
• Scientists know little aside from the chemical structure on GenX
• CFPUA's drinking water continues to meet all state and federal drinking water standards.
Chemours transitioned from making PFOAs to GenX because their own studies showed it was less toxic.
However, researchers and EPA studies performed to assess levels of emerging contaminants contained
in the streams that supply drinking water continue to enlighten all of us as to where to direct efforts to
enhance our knowledge and improve regulations to protect usage.
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