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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEQ-CFW_00024424�vrth Qlaraliwa ,Spimir ilarrhar �Iate 71u_qishdif�e it ix �qaleqqll, NT 276(11-280's C August 9, 2017 Governor Roy Cooper 20301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Dear Governor Cooper: We are writing to acknowledge receipt of an August 8 letter from your Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Health and Human Services (DI-IHS) secretaries. We are deeply concerned by recent news reports about the discharge of GenX in the Cape Fear River and share your commitment to ensuring our neighbors in the lower Cape Fear region have clean, safe drinking water. While we review your administration's request for a roughly $2.58 million additional appropriation, we also want to address recent news reports that have called attention to Multiple inconsistencies in your administration's handling of this crisis. In order to better understand the timing , and rationale for what looks like a reversal of course on several fronts, we request answers to the following questions: • When was the first instance anyone from your administration discussed Gen X in the Cape Fear River with Chemours or anyone else? • At any time did DEQ know about and/or approve the discharge of GenX? If not, please explain the information related in a June 29 news report stating, "slate regzdators said Cheniours informed them in its wrest i-ecent discharge peimii application and 'all previous al-yVications' that it was releasing GenX and other related substances ftom the Fqvelleville Works plant into the Cape .wear River, a process that has occurred since 1980. " • DEQ Secretary Michael Regan has publicly said Chemours did not break the law. In light of this, why are you requesting an investigation from the State Bureau or Investigation? What exactly is the SBI investigating? • Your administration said in June that the safe level of GenX in drinking water was 70,909 parts per trillion. Then, just one month later, your department revised the safe level to 140 parts per trillion — 500 times less than the original projection. What is the explanation for this change? Are there scientific studies or reports that support this change? Please identify those reports. • In June, DEQ said all discharges of Gen X at the Chemours plant had stopped, But water sampling in July found concentrations of GenX — concentrations still above the DEQ-CFW-00024424 level deemed to be safe. Can the public have confidence in DEQ when it says this chemical is no longer being discharged in the water? What assurances can you give that it has stopped and when? Are you aware that your administration does not need to wait for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set regulatory standards for GenX or other constituents? Are you aware that DEQ already regulates a number of chemicals without federal standards`? Are you aware that modifications made to G& 15013-19.3 in Session Law 2011-398 allow your administration to adopt any rule necessary to address "a Serious and unforeseen threat to the public health, safety, or welfare?" We understand DEQ recently received a federal criminal subpoena from the LJ.S, Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina, Have any other agencies or individuals in the Executive Branch received a similar subpoena? Has the governor's office received a subpoena in this matter? For the purposes of transparency, would your administration be willing to share all the public documents that will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney as result of these subpoena(s)? In addition, we need more information in order to make a well-infbrmed decision on how any additional appropriations could make a meaningful difference in water quality and public safety in the lower Cape Fear region, We are hopeful that you intend to target resources to make a difference rather than simply improve public relations, To that end, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions-, • Given that Chemours previously announced it will voluntarily discontinue discharging Geninto the Cape Fear River, how will additional funding for DEQ and DHHS affect the dumping of Geninto the river? • What specific use of the requested funds will be directed to improving water quality in areas already affected by GenX? How will that use of Funds affect water quality in ,areas already affected? • Why has DEQ not issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) under the Clean Water Act to Chemours? Regarding the costs for long-term water sampling for GenX, are You saaggestiaag that Chemours should not be required to bear these costs as as result of the settlement of the NOV? • Regarding the request for additional staff for DEQ, we know the department currently employs many individuals that perform non -regulatory functions not involving the implementation of federal or suite environmental quality programs. An example of this is the "Office of Innovation" that was just created by Secretary Regan, Rather than using taxpayer funds to create additional government employees, could Some of these individuals performing non -regulatory duties be shifted to assist with the permitting backlog and other regulatory functions that have been neglected? • Regarding the request for additional staff fbr DHHS, we know both DEQ and DHHS \currently employ accomplished and well -respected toxicologists that have been protecting North Carolinians for decades, Can you explain why these existing toxicologists are no longer able to satisfactorily perform this function under the supervision of your cabinet secretaries, and the need to create a new "Science Advisory Board" to supervise their work? DEQ-CFW-00024425 It is € ur belief the public should receive answers to these important nt questions, Given that the General Assembly bly will now be coming back into session within little more than a week, a swift response will help ensure we consider your answers as part of tllc review process, Please send answers to these questions to us by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14, Sincerely, Serf. Bill Caro Co -Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture / Environment ` Natural Resources Co -Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources Aj ,r Scree Rick Gunn Co -Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources 11�Qzpm Sen. Michael Lae Senator for District 9 (New Hanover Chanty) Seri, Bill R bon Senator for District 8 (Dladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender Counties) d Sen. Norm anderson Co -Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture . ` Environment < Natural Resources Sea. Trudy Wade Co -Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, natural, and Economic Resources a, —� San. Andy Wells Co- lla.irman, Begets Committee on Agriculture Environment ` Natural Resources M Secretary Michael el Regi to Secretary Mandy tNahen Senate Leader Phil Berger speaakor `I`€m Moore DEQ-CFW 00024426