Two Decades of Fighting to Protect NC from “Forever Chemicals”

Guest article by: Madeline Jones, author of “All About Water” Blog, student at Southlake Christian Academy Is there a local environmental issue you care about? Consider writing about it for CWFNC’s newsletter & blog! 99% of the US population that has been tested has per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in their blood. These compounds inspired the coining of the term ‘Forever Chemicals’ as they are extremely slow to break down in the environment and thus accumulate in water bodies’ sediment, soil and all organisms’ tissues . High bodily concentrations of these chemicals can result in complications in human neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Furthermore, certain PFAS have been labeled as carcinogens. These chemicals enter the body by ingesting food, water, or air contaminated by PFAS. Although certain PFAS have been around since the late 1930s, their innumerable problems have only been widely noticed by the public of North Carolina since the 2010s. Clean Water for North Carolina, however, has been researching PFAS and advocating against their use from as early as 2003. Map from Environmental Working Group on drinking water systems that tested above EPA’s new limits. In 2002, DuPont, a chemical manufacturing company, began producing a PFAS called C8, a nonstick and stain-resistant chemical commonly used in kitchenware and carpets. Unbeknownst to most of the public, this dangerous chemical was being released from the factory, where it contaminated the surrounding water and air. By 2003, Clean Water for North Carolina began advocating for the end of production for C8 after meeting with a researcher for the US Steelworkers union. This union expressed concerns for the DuPont workers and the environment after receiving data of high concentrations of C8 in the DuPont factory workers’ blood. Based on these concerns, Clean Water for North Carolina started discussing the issue with a regulator in the Hazardous Waste Section of the NC Environment and Natural Resources agency. These discussions combined with sampling around DuPont led to the discovery of significant levels of C8 in the groundwater surrounding the DuPont plant and downstream in the Cape Fear River. The issue proved even more serious after further discussion with the local folks downwind from the plant, who were aware of C8 in their ponds, groundwater, and wells. By late 2003, Clean Water for North Carolina had started frequently meeting with farmers and other individuals concerned about their health and livestock,  experiencing strange respiratory issues, rashes and tumors. Even as the evident problems of C8 increased, the chemical continued to be produced and evaded regulation by government agencies. Although Clean Water for NC continued to educate and advocate for the regulation of C8, most of the public in North Carolina was oblivious to the chemicals that had already contaminated their drinking water and were in many of their household products. Clean Water for NC’s Response To address this growing crisis at the source, members from Clean Water for North Carolina and individuals downriver from the DuPont factory traveled to a shareholder meeting of the DuPont corporation to testify about their concerns and experiences about the spread of C8. By their third year of meetings, this group convinced thirty percent of the shareholders to stop the production of C8 altogether. This was an extremely significant accomplishment, as the shareholders were making a substantial profit in the production of this chemical. After repeated pressure from CWFNC and other advocates in the media and at shareholder meetings, calling for an end to PFAS production, DuPont entered into a stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, resulting in them paying a large penalty and phasing out of C8 at Fayetteville Works.. This allowed DuPont to create new PFAS and chemicals to replace C8, which could avoid the regulations placed by the Environmental Protection Agency. As a result, DuPont began to develop chemicals that they stated were “safer” than C8, a claim that was not supported by any data and has proved to be false. As DuPont began to receive criticism for its production of PFAS, it created a spinoff company called Chemours in Fayetteville in 2015. Chemours began producingthe PFAS, Gen-X, which they claimed was a “safer alternative” compared to other PFAFS, although Gen-X causes the same health issues as C8. Additionally, this creation of Gen-X allowed the chemical to be unstudied and unregulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, as the stewardship agreement had only applied to the chemical C8. As Chemours produced stain-resistant and nonstick materials, Gen-X and many other related compounds were released into the environment, contaminating the air and nearby waterways, especially the Caper Fear River. In 2017, the production of PFAS gained nationwide attention as high concentrations of Gen-X were found in the River and wells. This proved disastrous for many communities and counties along the river, as the Cape Fear River is their main drinking water source. A study conducted in Wilmington and Brunswick counties found high concentrations of Gen-X in the Cape Fear River basin and the community’s drinking water including schools! This issue is exacerbated by the fact that only a specific and relatively expensive type of filter can remove PFAS from drinking water. This is extremely problematic, as there are limited studies on the long-term effects of PFAS, and many of the regulations for these chemicals are just beginning to be implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, just last week, the Environmental Protection Agency created its first national drinking water regulation for only two PFAS compounds of thousands. Many of the issues caused by PFAS have been brought to the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency by organizations such as Clean Water for North Carolina advocating for the removal and regulation of PFAS. Almost every person in the United States contains PFAS in their blood received from their drinking water and food packaging and other materials in their homes, schools, and communities. As one consumes these chemicals, they unknowingly subject themselves to toxins that have been known to cause a range of cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive issues, and probably cancer. If left unchecked, these chemicals will continue to plague the environment for generations to come. Therefore, it is essential to advocate to government agencies for our rights to clean drinking water free from these ‘forever chemicals’ to end the spread of these carcinogens. To join us in the fight, Clean Water of North Carolina is asking you to consider attending the administrative meetings conducted by the NC Dept of Environmental Quality to regulate PFAS in groundwater in North Carolina. The regulation of PFAS in groundwater is crucial, as over 50 percent of the United States population receives their drinking water from groundwater sources, which are easily contaminated by PFAS. This contamination can occur when rainwater infused with PFAS seeps into the soil and collects as groundwater beneath the surface, or if sludge or refuse containing PFAS release the compounds into the groundwater. PFAS in Groundwater Hearings Dec. 2 & 3- Join us! By showing up and testifying about your story or experience with the issue of PFAS, you can help support the case against them. Moreover, you can express your support for the federal and North Carolina limits for PFAS. Clean Water for NC points out it is also important to note the significance of taking a stronger stance on the eradication of the production of PFAS, as this is the only way to stop their spread! The administrative hearings on Groundwater Standards for 3 PFAS compounds will be as follows: Wilmington: December 2, 2024, at 6 pm in Wilmington at U-170, Union Station Building, Cape Fear Community College Raleigh: December 3, 2024, at 6 pm in Raleigh at Ground Foor Hearing Room, Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury Street. You can also comment by email. Visit CWFNC.org/pfas for more information and talking points. THANKS FOR SPEAKING UP FOR OUR WATERS AND HEALTH!   Works Cited chemsec. “99 per cent of Humans have PFAS Chemicals in their Blood.” chemsec, https://chemsec.org/wrappedinchemicals/facts/pfas-fact-1/. Accessed 20 November 2024. Mcninch, Alasdair. “Taking on the ‘Forever Chemical’ Threat in North Carolina School Water Supplies.” Facing South, March 15 2023, https://www.facingsouth.org/2023/03/taking-forever-chemical-threat-north-carolina-school-water-supplies. Accessed 20 November 2024.

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Air Permit Hearing Tonight on Gas Power Plants in Person County

A combined cycle methane gas power plant. Here’s what you can do: Duke Energy wants to build two new methane gas power plants in Person County (north of Durham). What we know: Investing in fossil fuels (gas) is bad for the climate & costly for customers. Duke Energy proposed these power plants as part of a plan to retire the Roxboro coal plant. The coal ash from that plant poisoned local residents’ groundwater. In Person, the rate of emergency room visits for asthma is higher than the state average. Person County’s cancer rate is higher than the state average. Now, Duke Energy is seeking an air permit for one of these gas plants. Tell NC Department of Environmental Quality: We can’t retire one environmental injustice, to replace it with another. Join us at the air permit hearing on Nov. 12 or submit your public comment online. Talking points below! Air Permit Public Hearing on Roxboro Gas Power Plant Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 Time: 6 p.m. (doors open 5:30pm) Location: Piedmont Community College auditorium, Room D-101 Address: 1715 College Drive, Roxboro   Submit a public comment! [email protected] with “DukeRoxboro.24A” in the subject line Voicemail: 919-707-8714   Mail (postmarked by Nov. 22) NCDEQ Division of Air Quality 1628 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628   Sample Comment & Talking Points Dear NC DEQ, My name is _______, I am a local resident. Do not issue the air permit for the Roxboro Steam Electric Plant. This matters to me because __________________________ (insert your personal reason here!). Do not retire one environmental injustice in Person County, just to replace it with another. Here are some of my concerns: Duke Energy’s own “environmental justice” analysis shows the plant may increase the community’s already high risk of cancer from harmful air pollutants. Duke Energy wants to run the gas plant & the coal plant at the same time, unclear how long. That’s more pollution for the community, not less. Duke Energy estimates the gas plant will emit more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide than the existing coal plant. VOCs can cause liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Low to moderate levels of carbon monoxide can cause chest pain, impaired vision, and reduced brain function. The draft permit doesn’t have an effective plan to monitor for sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and arsenic. In 2032, new Clean Air Act rules will take effect. Until then, the plant would run 80% of the year, emitting more than 2x the total carbon pollution the Roxboro coal units it is replacing produced in 2023. Duke Energy does not provide all the relevant pollution data. Duke fails to demonstrate why the data they do provide accurately predicts future pollution levels. The long-standing community directly next to the proposed gas plant is predominantly African American. The community has suffered the impacts from the existing coal plant for nearly 60 years. This is an environmental injustice. Issuing this permit would continue that injustice. Sincerely, Fact Sheets: Proposed Gas Powerplants/T-15 Pipeline & Air Permit The two methane gas power plants Duke Energy is proposing in Person County would be fed by the T-15 pipeline. Hyco Lake Gas Power plants & T-15 Pipeline: Learn more about both projects from this fact sheet. Learn ore about the T-15 pipeline and its proposed route at www.no-t15.org Air Permit Fact Sheet: Find detailed information about the air permit for the gas plants and community concerns.

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Coal Ash in NC and in the Triangle

 Coal ash community advocates & CWFNC staff in 2019. CWFNC has been involved in the environmental justice fight for coal ash clean-up for over a decade. Thank you to Jonathan Poston for contributing this article. Is there a local environmental issue you care about? Consider writing about it for CWFNC’s newsletter & blog! In 2014, a major spill at a Duke Energy site in Eden, NC, dumped 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River, shining a national spotlight on the issue. Now, the region has multiple coal ash ponds that threaten the local environment, especially around lakes, rivers, and groundwater supplies. Duke Energy, the state’s largest energy company, has been at the center of the controversy. The company is responsible for managing several coal ash storage sites, some of which are located near major waterways like the Neuse and Cape Fear rivers. Over time, toxic chemicals and heavy metals from these sites have seeped into the groundwater, impacting drinking water for nearby communities. These toxic elements can contaminate drinking water supplies and affect air quality. This leads to  increased risk of cancer,respiratory diseases, and neurological damage. Local ecosystems are also at risk, as coal ash can harm aquatic life and pollute soil, disrupting the balance of regional biodiversity. Local Response in the Triangle The Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) of North Carolina, known for its vibrant communities and research institutions, has also struggled with coal ash contamination. Most of the impact is visible in Chapel Hill where there is a highly publicized coal ash site that was discovered only in 2013, after 40-50 years of contaminating groundwater. However, nearby residents use the town’s public water system, protecting their access to safe drinking water. The issue has become a focal point of environmental activism, as residents and organizations work to combat its damaging effects in Chapel Hill. The coal ash site is located at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., the Chapel Hill Police Department headquarters. This site contains coal ash and construction debris from the 1960s and 1970s, discovered by the Town in 2013. Since then, the Town has worked with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) to follow all environmental laws and ensure public health and safety. (Photo on left: a sign indicates the site of Chapel Hill’s coal ash disposal site remediation project) In January of this year (2024) the EPA began considering adding the Chapel Hill coal ash site to the superfund list. And, as of July of this year the NC Dept of Environmental Quality (NC – DEQ) proposed that the coal ash site should be capped. While these are positive steps, locals dispute whether simply covering the site with a few feet of clean fill really mitigates the risks of arsenic and radium, along with the 18 other toxic chemicals found amid the waste. Note: From 2014 -2019, CWFNC and the Alliance of Carolinians Together Against Coal Ash worked to organize for well testing, filtration systems for contaminated wells and a complete removal of all Duke coal ash to above ground storage in impermeable sites We recently learned that some filtration systems are failing and will be working with residents to organize to get failing systems fixed

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