DEQ-CFW_00003445

Holman, Sheila
From:
Kritzer, Jamie
Sent:
Friday, July 14, 2017 3:04 PM
To:
Shehee, Mina; Talley, Noelle S
Cc:
Tarr, Jeremy M; Mackey, Chris; Coleman, Scott; Culpepper, Linda; Holman, Sheila;
Benton, Mark; Moore, Zack; Staley, Danny
Subject:
RE: News release
Mina
I sent a while.ago.
Here is final without the FAQ link.
State releases first water quality data, updated health information for GenX in Cape Fear River
Treated drinking water concentrations trending down, latest levels below updated health risk threshold
RALEIGH — State officials today released their first results of water quality samples and an updated preliminary health
assessment for concentrations of the unregulated compound GenX in finished, or treated, drinking water.
The revised health goal for exposure to GenX in drinking water is 140 nanograms per liter (also referred to as parts
per trillion).
Samples were analyzed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lab in Research Triangle Park and at Test America, a
lab in Colorado under contract to Chemours.
Data from samples collected June 19 and July 6 show that the most recent results of finished, or treated, water in all but
one facility were below the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services' health goal of 140 parts per trillion. The
data also reveal that concentrations of GenX are trending downward.
Although no information .is available about recreational health risks, people should refrain from swimming near the
Chemours facility.
"Our goal, is to protect the safety and health of all North Carolinians," said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C.
Department of Health and Human Services. "We are working closely with our partners at the Department of
Environmental Quality to understand and communicate information in a timely manner, to help those impacted."
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan said:
"Safe drinking water is a top priority for this administration, and DEQ takes seriously its responsibility to protect the
health and welfare of the public. We will continue to investigate this issue and make new information available to the
public in a timely fashion."
The findings reflect water quality data from samples collected at 13 sites in the Fayetteville and Wilmington areas
between June 19 -July 6.'Results show higher concentrations near the point where Chemours' Fayetteville
manufacturing facility was discharging GenX into the Cape Fear River, and much lower concentrations at the public
water supply systems near the facility and 70 miles downstream in the Wilmington area.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services released an initial preliminary health risk assessment on June 8 for
GenX in the Cape Fear River. Based on continuing analysis of health data and consultation with the Environmental
Protection Agency, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services today updated its initial preliminary health
assessment for GenX, the unregulated chemical compound recently identified in the lower Cape Fear River.
This updated health goal of 140 parts per trillion is expected to be the most conservative and health protective for non -
cancer effects in bottle-fed infants, pregnant women, lactating women, children and adults. This health goal is lower
than the health goal in the initial preliminary health assessment. This changes reflect information from new data.
Detailed information regarding the initial and revised assessments are posted online at:
Lower second week values reflect reduced exposure to GenX when, at the urging of state, local officials and concerned
citizens, Chemours on June 21 began diverting wastewater containing the contaminant into storage tanks to be shipped
out of state for incineration. DEQ inspected the Chemours site again this week after the company indicated that data it
had collected was higher than what it would have expected to see after the June 21 wastewater diversion had started.
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