DEQ-CFW_00003301

Town of Resolution R17-207
Leland Introduced By: David A. Hollis
Z=111 � Date: June 22, 2017
RESOLUTION REQUESTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
OF THE CAPE FEAR RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARY WATERWAYS
WHEREAS, the Town of Leland values the natural environment, the waterways, and the people,
animals, and creatures that live in, around, and rely on the waterways to grow and flourish; and
WHEREAS, the Cape Fear River has been a sustainable source of water supply for the citizens of
Brunswick County and the Town of Leland for decades; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Leland recognizes that regional solutions to water concerns with
engagement of all partners is the most prudent, viable, and feasible approach; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Leland recognizes that the availability of safe drinking water is of
paramount importance to the health and well-being of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Chemours is a company that operates a facility on approximately 2200 acres of land
in Bladen County along the Cape Fear River and which withdraws up to 26 million gallons per
day from the Cape Fear River and discharges treated wastewater back into the river; and
WHEREAS, Chemours manufactures GenXTM, a chemical used to make Teflon and other
products; and
WHEREAS, Chemours and other companies operate under a permit or agreement with the EPA
that requires the companies to reclaim 99% of the GenXTm chemical or other chemicals it
manufactures prior to discharge; and
WHEREAS, the current levels of GenXTm in the water supply are unknown, residents of Leland
were shocked to learn of the potential that GenXT"' could be in their water supplies; and
WHEREAS, Chemours contends that it complies with the 99% recapture rule for its facility for
production of GenXT"', but believes that GenXT"° may have been entering the river as a
byproduct of a polyvinyl ether process used at its Fayetteville Works Plant; and
Resolutions
Page 1 of 3
DEQ-CFW 00003301

WHEREAS, GenXTM is a newer chemical used to replace one known as C8, which was the subject
of a consent order to cease use between the EPA and Chemours' predecessor, Dupont, because
of its detrimental health effects; and
WHEREAS, GenX` has been shown in some studies to cause adverse health issues in lab
animals, and is an emerging chemical for which the EPA has yet to establish a safe regulatory
level; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has begun
testing for GenXT"" at 12 spots in area waters, and this testing is paid for by Chemours; and
WHEREAS, Chemours has data on the discharges from its facilities which has not been disclosed
to the public that could aid in understanding the quantities of GenXT"" that have been
discharged, the effectiveness of environmental abatement efforts, and any impacts on health;
and
WHEREAS, the addition of specialized activated bituminous coal filters, or other similar
components, to the common methods of public utility water treatment has the ability to
remove chemicals, like GenXTM, that are otherwise difficult to remove.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Leland Town Council does hereby call on
all companies that discharge into the Cape Fear River and its tributary waterways to take steps
to minimize and remove pollutants from their discharges; and
FURTHER, requests that Brunswick County join us in this call regarding any other companies
with chemical discharges; and
FURTHER, requests that Chemours continue to maintain a zero discharge policy of GenXTI into
the Cape Fear River; and
FURTHER, calls on Chemours to disclose all data related to the discharge of GenXT" and other
chemicals into area waters; and
FURTHER, calls on Chemours to provide the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority
customers, namely Brunswick County, New Hanover County, and Pender County, with the
funding to install specialized water treatment components, such as activated bituminous coal
filters, at their existing treatment facilities to assist in removal of GenXTm and other potential
chemicals from their water supplies; and
FURTHER, calls on DEQ and the US Environmental Protection Agency to move rapidly and
effectively, including a six month suspension and thorough review of all new and pending
Resolutions Page 2 of 3
DEQ-CFW 00003302

NPDES water discharge permits into the Cape Fear River and its tributaries, to assure zero
chemical discharge into our waterways and drinking water supplies.
Adopted by Town Council on this 22 day of June, 2017.
r
Brenda Bozeman, Mayor
Resolutions
U21-JLO-'i
Sabrena Reinhardt, Town Clerk
Page 3 of 3
DEQ-CFW 00003303