Southern Environmental Law Center files lawsuit calling for DEQ action on GenX

CHAPEL HILL, NC (WECT) - The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit in New Hanover County Superior Court calling on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to use its authority to require the Chemours Company to immediately stop all discharge of GenX and other chemically related compounds from its Fayetteville Works facility.

"The state needs to stop immediately Chemours' toxic pollution of the air and water that families and communities from Fayetteville to Wilmington depend on," said Geoff Gisler, senior attorney with the SELC. "Every day that goes by, Chemours puts more toxic pollution into the air and water that accumulates in our rivers, land, and groundwater. Chemours' harmful pollution must end now."

According to a Friday afternoon news release from the SELC, on June 15, DEQ denied a request from Cape Fear River Watch asking DEQ to require Chemours to stop pollution at its Fayetteville facility.

SELC argues in the lawsuit that DEQ has the authority and obligation to force Chemours to stop releasing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances into the water and air.

"The people of North Carolina depend on DEQ to protect our health and safety in times of emergency," said Cape Fear River Watch Board of Directors President Dana Sargent. "This is one of those times."

For details on the filing, click here.

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