North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality News

Federal Judge to Streamline Lawsuits Over GenX Chemical in North Carolina River

A federal judge wants to streamline lawsuits blaming two companies for releasing a little-understood compound from a North Carolina chemical plant into waters used by hundreds of thousands of people. U.S. District Judge James Dever III has ordered five complaints …

Duke Energy Will Pay $84K Penalty for North Carolina Coal Ash Leaks

The country’s largest electricity company will pay an $84,000 penalty and work to stop potentially toxic waste from three North Carolina coal-burning power plants from leaking into groundwater and nearby rivers under a deal with state regulators announced Tuesday. The …

GenX Chemical Found Across River from Chemours Plant in North Carolina

North Carolina officials say elevated levels of an industrial chemical were found on the opposite side of the Cape Fear River from the chemical plant. The Fayetteville Observer reports that the state Department of Environmental Quality found the chemical GenX …

North Carolina Environmental Agency to Step Up Pollution Violation Investigations

North Carolina’s environmental agency is revising internal policies after complaints the agency under former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory repeatedly failed to investigate when industrial-scale hog farms violate anti-pollution rules. The Waterkeeper Alliance and other groups said Tuesday they’re settling their …

Traces of GenX Compound Found in North Carolina Food Product

The unregulated compound found in more than 80 drinking water wells near a chemical company’s manufacturing facility in North Carolina has been found in a food product for the first time. Tests found honey collected by a farmer about 2 …

North Carolina Detects GenX in 34 Additional Wells

North Carolina officials say tests have detected elevated levels of an unregulated compound at 34 additional wells near a chemical company’s manufacturing facility. The Fayetteville Observer reports the results announced Monday bring the total number of wells contaminated by the …

North Carolina Environmental Officials to Take Action Over GenX Spill

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality says a spill resulting in an increase of toxic chemical levels in a river hadn’t been reported by a chemical company until regulators approached. The StarNews reports state Environmental Quality officials said in …

Legislators Struggle Over How to Handle Chemicals in North Carolina Water

North Carolina legislators are grappling with the growing knowledge that industries have discharged unstudied chemicals into the state’s waters for years, and that a recent upsurge in concern carries the risk of political blame. The unregulated chemical GenX that for …

North Carolina Officials to Test Unregulated Chemical in Groundwater at Plant

Environmental officials say they’ll test groundwater for people living near a North Carolina chemical plant after finding worrying signs of an unregulated and little-studied compound. The state Department of Environmental Quality said Sept. 6 it’s acting on limited information that …

North Carolina Company Faces Fine Over Red Dye Contamination in Creek

A company could be fined by North Carolina regulators after a rupture at a Winston-Salem plant dumped red dye into a creek, killing some fish and prompting a warning for people to avoid the water. The spill occurred at Hanes …