PFAS

An effort to order manufacturers of "forever chemicals" to help North Carolina public water systems pay for upgrades to remove contaminants that a company discharged has been renewed in the General Assembly.

The state Groundwater and Waste Management Committee did not take up a vote during Wednesday's meeting to move forward with groundwater standards for PFAS. This comes after the North Carolina Chamber asked state officials to delay action on adopting these standards.

The new rules establish legally enforceable levels for six kinds of PFAS. Levels range from four-to-10 parts per trillion. Public water systems across the country have until 2029 to meet these standards.

The council issued a formal statement saying the chemical companies have disregarded the rights and wellbeing of residents along the lower Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

UNC Chapel Hill researchers have discovered eight types of previously unknown PFAS in the Cape Fear River using a new detection method.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it reversed its decision because Chemours provided inaccurate information to the Netherlands' government about the volume of materials being shipped. This development comes a week after letters from the United Nations accusing Chemours of violating human rights were made public.

Residents of the Navassa community are contributing blood and information to learn about their level of exposure to PFAS contamination.

Environmental groups are sounding the alarm about a bill moving in the state Senate. They say it could lead to more water pollution and make it easier to build new natural gas pipelines and hog farms.

DuPont and spinoff companies Chemours and Corteva said Friday they'll create a $1.18 billion fund that could compensate thousands of public water systems. PFAS chemicals are used widely in nonstick and water-resistant products, as well as some firefighting foams.