DEQ-CFW_00083345

From: Kritzer, Jamie [/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=CEE93C49D01445A3B541BB327DCDC840-JBKRITZER]
Sent: 8/31/2017 6:21:51 PM
To: Dalesio, Emery [[e-mail]]
Subject: Re: State seeks to stop additional chemical discharges into the Cape Fear River
Emery,
One of the scientists with EPA clarified and said
The Nafion byproduct 1 is a perfluorinated compound; The Nafion byproduct 2 is a
polyflourinated compound.
Sorry about that.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 31, 2017, at 2:01 PM, "Dalesio, Emery" <EDalesio )ap.org> wrote:
thanks
From: Kritzer,- • d- ••
Thursday,a • '
Dalesio, Emery
Subject: Re: State seeks to stop additional chemical discharges into the Cape Fear River
Yes.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 31, 2017, at 12:14 PM, "Dalesio, Emery" <EDalesio aiap.org> wrote:
Jamie,
Are Nafion byproducts 1 and 2 perfluorinated chemicals like GenX and the 3
previously identified?
<irnage001 J[)g>
Emery P. Dalesio
The Associated Press
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Raleigh, N.C. 27512
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wiH be a correspondent of the Associated Press." fllfahat:ma Gandhi, 1932, on meeting an 11I-1 reporter
at a remote railwgy station after his release fi-orn an Indian prison,
From: Jamie Kritzer[mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 11:19 AM
DEQ-CFW 00083345

To: • Emery
..... ......
Roy Cooper, Governor
Release: 1AIMEDIATE
Date: August 31, 2017
r I
Environmental
Quality,
Contact: Jamie Kritzer; Chris Mackey
Phone: [phone]
Michael S. Regan, Secretary
State sccks to stop additional chemical discharges into the Cape Fear River
DEO looking at all legal options to end discharge, again demands Chemours provide complete list of chemicals in waste
stream
RALEIGH — As part of its ongoing investigation, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality this week urged Chemours to
stop discharging two additional chemical compounds into the Cape Fear River. The compounds were identified in the
company's waste stream by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency preliminary 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.
At a meeting on Monday, EPA scientists told the state they have identified two compounds they are calling Nafion byproducts I
and 2 in Chemours' waste stream and that estimated concentrations of these compounds are not decreasing. The new
information prompted DEQ to -write Chemours on Tuesday urging the company to stop the release of the two compounds. DEQ
also repeated its demand for Chemours to provide the state agency with a complete inventory, sampling 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 priority is to protect the state's citizens," said Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental
Quality. "Until we know more about the health effects of these byproducts, the company needs to stop discharging them. We're
also repeating our demand that Chemours give us information 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 of the Nafion byproducts comes from preliminary analysis of water samples
gathered by DEQ at Chemours' wastewater discharge outfall near Fayetteville and finished drinking water at the Sweeney
Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington. Scientists at the EPA lab are conducting further analysis of the water samples.
Preliminary results shared by the EPA this week also include three perfluorinated compounds that along with GenX were
previously identified in the Cape Fear River by a 2016 study by the EPA and N.C. State University. Estimated concentrations of
these three perfluorinated compounds dropped significantly, similar to GenX levels after the company stopped discharging
GenX. For that reason, state and federal officials believe the three perfluorinated compounds were part of the same wastewater
discharge that included GcnX and was stopped.
The accuracy of the laboratory analysis for the five chemicals included in the EPA's preliminary results is more uncertain than
DEQ-CFW-00083346

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 idcntify chemicals present, rather than testing to see if a particular chemical is present. This
different from the more commonly known targeted screening, which is when researchers identify what they are looking for in
the water and then test for those specific things.
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.
Little is known about the health effects of any of the five compounds—Nafion byproducts I 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 perfluoninated 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 perfluoninated 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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