Judge Finalizes Chemours, North Carolina Water Pollution Settlement

North Carolina’s environmental agency says a finalized settlement agreement allows it to make sure a Fortune 500 chemical company follows through on promises to clean up industrial chemicals in the water or face legal penalties.

A state judge on Monday finalized a revised agreement between the state, environmentalists and The Chemours Co. that was unveiled last week.

The settlement was updated after public input commits the company to speeding up plans to reduce chemicals reaching downstream public water utilities on top of paying $13 million in penalties and costs.

The deal doesn’t affect lawsuits by residents and Wilmington’s water utility 100 miles (161 kilometers) downstream against Chemours or DuPont, the company which spun off Chemours in 2015.

The company says it knows showing progress is far more powerful than words.