WILMINGTON — State environmental officials are heading to the coast this April to hear from the public regarding new proposed rules aimed at monitoring and reducing “forever chemicals” and industrial solvents in North Carolina’s water supply.
The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has scheduled six public hearings across the state — including one in Wilmington — to discuss and get feedback on a new regulatory framework for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and 1,4-dioxane. PFAS, commonly used as a water-repellent, are linked to kidney cancer and developmental issues. 1,4-dioxane is a synthetic industrial solvent classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen that can cause liver and kidney damage.
READ MORE: Vote coming on PFAS, 1,4 dioxane rules that critics say allow polluters to police themselves
The proposed rules would require industrial facilities and publicly owned treatment plants that handle industrial waste to develop “minimization plans” if the chemicals are detected in wastewater. Minimization plans must identify specific strategies to reduce the amount of pollutants being discharged by a company directly or indirectly into surface waters.
However, the proposal has faced sharp criticism from environmental advocates and some utility leaders. As Port City Daily previously reported, critics argue the rules are “toothless” because they lack enforceable numeric discharge limits or automatic penalties for companies who continue to pollute.
Hannah Nelson, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, previously described the framework as a “polluter wish-list” allowing industries to prioritize profits over downstream health. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Executive Director Kenneth Waldroup also expressed concerns, formerly noting regulation without enforceable targets provides only “empty promises” for North Carolinians.
State officials are specifically looking for public feedback on whether to establish a “screening threshold” for these rules. This threshold would serve as a numerical cutoff to determine which facilities are required to follow the new regulations.
If a company’s discharge levels fall below this limit, they would be screened out and exempt from both ongoing monitoring and the requirement to create a pollution reduction plan. The EMC is asking the public whether this cutoff should be set at the lowest concentration a lab can detect, or at a higher level that would exempt more businesses from the requirements.
The hearings are split into two categories: one for PFAS and one for 1,4-dioxane. For all locations, sign-in and speaker registration begins at 5 p.m., with the hearing starting at 6 p.m.
PFAS Monitoring and Minimization Hearings:
- Asheville: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 — Ferguson Auditorium, AB-Tech Community College.
- Raleigh: Monday, April 20, 2026 — Archdale Building, Ground Floor Hearing Room.
- Wilmington: Thursday, April 23, 2026 — Wilmington City Hall at Skyline Center, 1st Floor Conference Center.
1,4-Dioxane Monitoring and Minimization Hearings:
- Hickory: Thursday, April 9, 2026 — Catawba County St. Stephens Branch Library.
- Fayetteville: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 — Fayetteville Technology Community College, Tony Rand Student Center.
- Jamestown: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — Percy H. Sears Applied Technologies Building, Guilford Tech.
The public comment period opens March 16 and runs through June 15. In addition to the hearings, residents can submit written comments via email to NCDEQ with the subject line “PFAS minimization” or “1,4-dioxane minimization.”
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