DEQ-CFW_00059504

From: Zimmerman, Jay [/D=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGEADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYD|BOHF2]SPDLT)/CN=REOP|ENTS/CN=GG]D8145]8D54EBF858721A7831DGCDF-SJZ|[W[WER[WAN]
Sent: 8/9/20I7 I:2I:34PM
To: 3hacNefoniWanda kwanda.shadNeford@ncdencXov kvanda.shacWeford@ncdencXov
CC: Culpepper, Linda Dh=ExchangeLabs/ou=ExchanXeAdministrative Group
(FYD|BOHFI]3PD[n/cn=Kedpients/cn=7]d475cbae324aZ9687eI7I1dc9a79c5-|mcu|pepper]
Subject: FW: DEQ, DHHS share budget request to protect water, ensure long-term monitoring, analysis and enforceme
8.Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director
Division ofWater Resources
l617Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC27699'l617
Ph#(919)7U7-9UZ7
web page: http://www.ncwater.org/
Email correspondence mand from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may bedisclosed mthird parties unless the
content is exempt by statute or other regulation.
From: King, Morelia
Sent: Wednesday, August 09,JO179:O5AM
To: Zimmerman, Jay ^jayzimmennan@ncdenr.8ov>
Subject: RE: DEQ, DHHS share budget request to protect water, ensure long-term monitoring, analysis and enforceme
Hi Jay,
I think we need a GenX code for the timesheet (like we did with coal ash).
Have a nice day,
mmrel|aSanchez King
Wilmington Regional Office: 127 Cardinal Drive Extension; Wilmington, NC 28405
(p)9107967218<qn1nosozoo4
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From: Zimmerman, Jay [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 5:16 PM
Subject: Fw: DEQ, DHHS share budget request to protect water, ensure long-term monitoring, analysis and enforceme

Just wanted to share the latest with all of you concerning the Department's efforts to shore up our program and
to help us do a better job protecting our water resources. Keep up the good work and feel free to let me know if
you have any concerns or questions.
Jay
From: Jamie Kritzer <jam ie.kritzer@ ncdenr.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 2:22:54 PM
To: Zimmerman, Jay
Subject: DEQ, DHHS share budget request to protect water, ensure long-term monitoring, analysis and enforceme
Roy Cooper, Governor
Michael S. Regan, Secretary
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Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Jamie Kritzer; Chris Mackey
Date: Aug. 8, 2017 Phone: [phone]
DEQ, DHHS share budget request to protect water, ensure long-term monitoring, analysis and enforcement
Since 2013, DEQ has seen approximately 70 positions eliminated that once supported the permitting, compliance and
en, forcemeat
RALEIGH — In response to the ongoing investigation into the compound GenX and drinking water in the Cape Fear region,
Governor Cooper announced that the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Health and Human Services
would request critical funding to support additional scientists, engineers and health professionals to ensure water testing and
protection statewide.
DEQ and DHHS have been in touch with the legislators from the affected counties and they received a letter from Secretary
Mandy Cohen and Secretary Michael Regan earlier today outlining the details of the request. That letter can be read here-.
"North Carolina families deserve to have confidence in their drinking water. We have deployed our experts to address the
immediate concerns in the Lower Cape Fear region, but because of cuts over the last few years, long-term solutions will take
more resources than our department currently has. It is critical that we have the engineers and environmental specialists
necessary to put science first to protect our water," said DEQ Secretary Michael Regan.
Since 2013, DEQ has seen approximately 70 positions eliminated that once supported the permitting, compliance and
enforcement programs. DEQ is responsible for monitoring 38,000 miles of waterways.
"This legislation would allow DHHS to create a Water Health and Safety Unit to enhance our understanding of unregulated
compounds and protect families' drinking water," said DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.
The legislation contains appropriations to the state agencies as follows:
Water and public health; Department of Health and Human Services, S530,839
Resources to stand up a Water Health and Safety unit in the Division of Public Health that would include additional expertise
DEQ-CFW-00059505

specifically on water quality.
• Medical risk assessor, a physician who has experience with poisoning and environmental toxicity;
• PhD Toxicologist, to research and review available studies and formulate strategies to mitigate harmful health effects;
• Informatics/ epidemiologist, to organize data and perform high-level analysis to arrive at causation of harm;
• Health educator, to establish adequate public notifications and provide educational materials and briefings to the public.
Water quality monitoring, permitting; Department of Environmental Quality, S2,049,569
Funding for long-term water sampling for the presence of GcnX by DEQ at a cost of $14,000 per week for a full year
(currently the cost is being funded by the corporation and performed by the Environmental Protection Agency and
private labs on a time -limited basis).
Staff for the Division of Water Resources: Already a backlog of wastewater permits exists, and the review time can
take as long as two years. That's too long for the public and industry. Adding experts would Rive us more thorough and
timely review.
• Four Engineers, three Environmental Specialists, two Environmental Senior Specialists, two Hydrogeologists,
two Program Consultants, a Business Technology Analyst and two Chemist III to strengthen the Division of
Water Resources so it can address unregulated compounds in the water discharge permitting program and
allow more frequent sampling and faster evaluation.
• These water quality scientists and experts like hydrogeologists and chemists would work with local
governments to identify where contaminants occur and -where they come from.
• Move the permits from paper copies to an electronic database to integrate wastewater, drinking water and
groundwater information and allow for easy searches.
The legislation would also direct the Environmental Review Commission to study whether there should be an exemption to the
so-called "Hardison amendment" that prevents the state from enacting stricter standards than the federal government.
In the letter, Regan and Cohen ask legislators to authorize the request during the General Assembly's September session.
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North Carolina Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, 217 W. Jones St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 United States
DEQ-CFW-00059506