The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, along with the Public Health Director David Howard, recently sent letters to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser, regarding Chemours’s proposed framework for sampling drinking water in the county.
According to the county, NCDEQ has not formally accepted a plan from Chemours, so county officials wanted to raise concerns on behalf of its residents.
The commissioners say the Chemours plan is "grossly inadequate." The commissioners object to Chemours' proposal to test only a limited number ("up to") 200 private wells; officials would like to see testing for more wells, including public wells serving schools and other facilities. In addition, they've asked for more clarity for residents on who is eligible for testing; the consent order for residents closer to its Fayetteville plant would require Chemours to notify residents — but Chemours' plan for New Hanover County puts the onus on residents to contact Chemours to find out if they're eligible.
The county would like to see all of this on a faster time line, as well.
They’d also like DEQ to offer a counter plan or directives that ensure the county’s residents have the same level of protection that those receive who live nearby the plant.
The county says it will send out more information once DEQ sends its next steps.
The full letter from the Board of Commissioners can be viewed here; and Public Health Director David Howard’s letter can be viewed here.