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GenX Talking Points
Safe drinking water is critical to you and your families, and we at the state level take seriously our
responsibility to protect your health and welfare. We are committed to conducting a thorough and
complete investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River, We understand why you're concerned about this
and we are doing everything in our power to provide the information and answers you deserve as soon
as possible.
Let me update you on the progress of our investigation.
DEQ staff inspected the Chemours' Fayetteville plant yesterday and verified that the company is no
longer discharging wastewater containing GenX. We will continue to monitor the facility to ensure the
chemical is handled properly.
We will continue to hold Chemours to its commitment to no longer discharge GenX into the Cape Fear
River as we continue the state's investigation.
We also confirmed that the company is now redirecting wastewater from the GenX process into
temporary storage tanks and moving the wastewater off -site for safe disposal through incineration.DEQ
is collecting water samples so we can get current data about where GenX may be present and at what
levels.
DEQ teams last week began collecting water samples from 12 locations along the Cape Fear, including
at Chemours' Fayetteville facility, downstream at the Wilmington area's water system intakes, and
finished water and groundwater wells serving the lower Cape Fear region.
Sampling will continue through next week to provide our scientists with thorough data.
Water samples collected by DEQ are being analyzed by two independent laboratories, a certified facility
in Colorado and a U.S. EPA lab in Research Triangle Park. Samples collected on June 19 and June 22
arrived last week at the labsMater testing results will be reviewed by state officials with DEQ and
DHHS and made available to the public. Results are expected to be available about a month from the
time the samples arrive at the labs.
Collecting and analyzing water samples from multiple locations along the river is essential to
understanding the current conditions and evaluating potential health impacts.
DEQ is currently reviewing the company's request to renew its wastewater permit and the permit will
not be renewed until the state's investigation is complete.
North Carolina health and environmental experts from DEQ and DHHS are working with local
governments, water utilities and other stakeholders to ensure community concerns are addressed.
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We also have enlisted the help of experts at the federal level and will continue in our efforts to better
understand this unregulated compound and its potential impacts.
DEQ has launched a new website that provides real-time updates on the state's investigation of GenX.
You can find the information at DEQ.NC.GOV.
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