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Investigation Background
The N.C. departments of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) began
investigating the presence of a compound known as GenX in the Cape Fear River in June. The Chemours
facility in Fayetteville was identified as the company that produces the GenX chemical for industrial processes.
As part of the state's investigation, DEQ began collecting water samples from multiple sites along the Cape
Fear River, with additional samples collected throughout the region. Those samples were analyzed at two
separate labs: Test America in Colorado and the Environmental Protection Agency's lab in the Research
Triangle Park.
Thanks to the state's investigation, the release to the Cape Fear River of GenX and two other fluorinated
compounds has stopped, water quality for these compounds at all finished drinking water sites is well within
state health goals, and the state is developing better information needed to protect North Carolina's water
quality and public health.
Groundwater monitoring well sampling at Chemours facility
As part of the state's investigation, DEQ staff sampled the facility's onsite groundwater monitoring wells to
determine the effect of the discharge on the groundwater. These onsite wells are not used for drinking water, but
instead for environmental monitoring. The samples were sent to a certified laboratory in Charleston, S.C., and
analyzed for GenX and other fluorinated compounds. At the same time, the EPA and Chemours took samples
from the same wells and sent them to separate laboratories for analysis. Results showed high levels of GenX in
13 of the 14 monitoring wells.
Private drinking water well sampling and future actions
The state's environmental staff plans on Sept. 15 to start sampling the private drinking wells of people living
adjacent to the plant's property.
People living near the Chemours facility deserve to know about the safety of their well water, and the state is
using its available resources to address the safety of peoples' drinking water.
Testing private wells beyond the facility will show if any contamination has moved beyond the site into wells
used for drinking. The state plans to test for the presence of GenX and two other fluorinated compounds with
established health goals. Results are expected in several weeks. When the state receives these results, staff will
determine our agency's next steps, including if additional wells further from the facility's perimeter need to be
sampled.
Groundwater sampling results at Chemours' facility
Results of water samples collected in the industrial, non -drinking water wells at the Chemours facility can be
found online at the web page DEQ developed for GenX at:
https:Hfiles.nc.gov/ncdeq/GenX/GenX`/`20Sampling`/`2OMap"/`2020170906-3.pdf
Other private well sampling
Chemours has informed the state that the company has implemented its own sampling plan of drinking water wells
within one mile of the facility. Homeowners who live outside the initial one -mile sampling area can request that the
company sample their well.
Also, Chemours has informed the state that it is offering bottled water to people living within a one -mile radius of
the facility. People who wish can visit the Chemours facility to get bottled water. Homeowners who live outside the
initial one -mile sampling area can request that the company sample their drinking water wells and ask for bottled
water; however, those requests must go to the facility.
DEQ-CFW-00084582
More information
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has information regarding the GenX investigation on its
website, https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation.
DEQ-CFW-00084583