WILMINGTON — The revelation of the chemical known as GenX being found in the Cape Fear River prompted the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Board to call a special meeting on Friday to discuss its next move regarding the situation.
Star News reported last week that the chemical had been found in a study done by NC State in which CFPUA had participated.
Chairman of the CFPUA Board Mike Brown announced his desire to conduct an internal review of the timeline from the first time the CFPUA learned of GenX in the water supply, until recently when it was brought to the board’s attention.
“This board has an oversight commitment over the organization … I think it would be prudent for this board to initiate a review of the timeline, review of our involvement in this issue, with the goal of bringing forward a complete and fully accurate completely transparent record of how we proceeded,” Brown said.
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Brown also said he was only made aware of the issue of GenX on June 5, 2017. But the CFPUA admitted to knowing about the issue for more than one year. Brown could not put a definitive timeline on the review’s completion. It will be conducted by co-chairwoman Jennifer Adams and former board attorney Robin Smith.
Board member Charlie Rivenbark expressed his frustration with the length of time since the study was conducted, until the public was made aware of the situation last week.
“We are talking five years and it never made the light of day? The professor or the EPA didn’t send out something, even though it was a non-regulated containment, they had to be concerned about it. That is what the public is so pissed off about – somebody knew this and it just was allowed to continue,” he said.
Much like a press conference held Thursday, the meeting did not answer some of the most pressing questions posed by residents and media outlets.
(Port City Daily photo/MICHAEL PRAATS)
Is the water safe?
The question on many people’s mind has yet to be answered with a “yes” or “no.” When asked if County Chairman Woody White could say if the water was safe for consumption, he did not give a definitive “yes” or “no.” He did say he would continue drinking the water.
Brown shared a similar answer when asked the same question Friday.
“I would like to see a definitive answer on that (the health risk posed). On a personal level, I agree with what Woody said last night, this is a personal decision; our constituents can make their own decisions. On a personal level myself, my 2 1/2 year old son, and my wife who is about 14 weeks pregnant are presently drinking the water … based on the information that is available right now, I am still drinking the water,” Brown said.
Can GenX be removed through filtration?
When asked if he knew of any methods for filtration of GenX, Brown said he was not aware of any system that is effective – especially since this is an emerging compound.
White had a similar answer saying he did not have an answer when it came to a filtration system capable of handling GenX.
The CFPUA passed two separate resolutions during the meeting. The first of the two resolutions made several requests to the Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Chemours.
To the NC DEQ, CFPUA requests:
- Require daily sampling and testing of all waste streams leaving Chemours
- Consult with the Department of Health and Human Services to determine if the levels of GenX are safe for residents
- Request the permit granted to Chemours be modified to prevent the discharge of GenX until the two previous requests have been completed
To the EPA, CFPUA requests:
- The determination for each month that Chemours has discharged any GenX into the Cape Fear River, if they indeed continuously captured and destroyed 99 percent of GenX
- Inspect the company’s Fayetteville facility to ensure Chemours has established the necessary processes and procedures to ensure 99 percent of GenX is being and will continue to be captured
- Review the studies received from Chemours and any sampling and determine immediately if the concentrations of GenX are safe for human health
To The Chemours Company, CFPUA requests:
- They cease all discharges containing fluorochemical compounds until DHHS and the EPA determine what levels of concentration for each compound can be safely discharged to protect human health and the environment.
The second resolution was much shorter and authorized the CFPUA to allow its independent environmental counsel to take whatever actions deemed necessary to accomplish the objectives of the first resolution.
_____________________________________________________________________Reporter Michael Praats can be contacted by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @michael_praats
