DEQ-CFW_00083261

Michael S. Regan, Secretary
Release: FdMEDIATE Contact: Jamie Kritzer; Chris Mackey
0EQ looking mall legal options mend discharge, again demands Chemwursprovide mnipletelist ofthemicals in waste streain
RAL&0GN|—Aopart ofitsongoing investigation,duN.[. Department ofEnvironmental Quality this week urged
[hemouroto stop discharging two additional chemical compounds into the Cape Fear River. The werek1 ndfiodinducon�pany`owambeuU�n�ahvalJ.8.Bnvironn�on�]ProLeodonAceooyproliminary analysis shared with the
state this week.
DEQ is looking at all legal options including going to court to get the company to stop the discharge.
Atmeeting on Monday, EPA scientists told the state they have identified two compounds they are calling Nbafiou
byproducts | and in [homouro` naoV: stream and that estimatedconcentrations of these compounds are not decreasing.
The new bnfornuo1kn prompted DB0Lowrite Chemours on Tuesdayurging the company Lostop the release ofthe inn
compounds. Df%)also repeated its demand for Chemours to provide the state agency with a complete inventory, samoliluz
data and test results for all chemicals included in the company"s waste stream.
Details on the EPA's findings are included in a report shared by the federal agency with DEQ today.
"Our top pnionitv ietoprotect the state`ooktzone,"said Michael Rocom' secretary ofthe N.C. Department ofEnvironmental
Quality. "Until veknow more about the health effects ofthese byproducts, the company needs instop discharging them.
We're also repeating our demand that Chemours give us inforination about all other chemicals in its waste stream."
The new information is the result of the EPA's analysis of water samples submitted by DEQ to the EPA's lab in Research
Triangle Park. Information about the presence ofthe Nafion byproducts comes from preliminary analysis ofwater samples
gathered by DEQ at Chemours' wastewater discharge outfall near Fayetteville and finished drinking water atthe Sweeney
Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington. Scientists at the EPA lab are conducting further analysis of the water samples.
Preliminary results shared hvthe EPA this week also include three perfluormated compounds that along with {}cnXwere
previously identified in d/cCupo Four River by u 20|6study b_vthe EPA and N.C. State University. Estimated
concentrations ofthese three purOuodnoLdcompounds dropped significantly, obmi|artoGonX|ove|oafterdeoompany
stopped discharging GenX. For that reason, state and federal officials believe the three perfluorinated compounds were part
of the same wastewater discharge that included GonX and was stopped.
The accuracy ofthe laboratory analysis for the five chemicals included iuthe G9A`opreliminary results iomore uncertain
than those available for GenX because calibration standards for these chemicals are not commercially available. EPA is
using new non -targeted screening methods to develop concentration estimates for these five chemicals. With non -targeted
screening, researchers are able to test for and identify chemicals present, rather than teto see ifoparticular chemical ie
present. This is different from the more commonly known targeted screening, which is when researchers identify what they
are looking for inthe water and then test for those specific things.
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OEQ-CFVV_00083261

State officials began investigating the presence of GenX in the river in June. That ongoing investigation along with
pressure from residents and local officials prompted Chemours to stop discharging GenX from its Fayetteville facility.
DEQ is now asking Chemours to stop discharge of the Nafion byproducts, which preliminary results indicate come from
the company's wastewater but are unchanged since the GenX discharge ended.
-inore-
_2_
Little is known about the health effects of any of the five compounds—Nafion byproducts 1 and 2 or the three other
perfluourinated compounds — included in this week's analysis from the EPA.
Public health experts with DHHS used available studies to establish a health goal for GenX. Since the GenX discharge
stopped, concentrations of GenX have dropped well below the state health goal of 140 parts per trillion. No similar health
studies have been identified for the Nafion byproducts or the other three perfluorinated compounds analyzed by the EPA,
so DHHS is unable to establish a health goal for them at this time.
DHHS reiterated its health guidance that the public can continue to drink the water, based on ongoing testing for GenX and
other compounds for which health information is available. This guidance has not changed following the preliminary
results shared by the EPA this week.
" I know how frustrating it is to all of us that we have very little scientific information about these unregulated, emerging
compounds," said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. "We continue to work
with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other scientists to get more
information as quickly as possible."
As part of the ongoing investigation, DEQ requested that the EPA analyze water samples for GenX and other unregulated
chemical compounds included in the 2016 study conducted by the EPA and N.C. State University. Among those chemicals
are the perfluorinated compounds the EPA reported this week. The EPA also chose to analyze the water samples for the
Nafion byproducts based on a separate prior study by the federal agency. Specialists with the EPA's lab in Research
Triangle Park conducted the analysis using new technology and methodology and looked at water samples collected by
DEQ over a six -week period starting June 19.
DEQ will review all this information as part of its investigation and the agency's review of Chemours' application for a
new wastewater discharge permit.
The EPA informed state officials this week that it is working on a report that will include concentrations of other
compounds at multiple sampling locations over multiple weeks.
As with the results for GenX, DEQ will make public test results for all the compounds when final data is available.
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