Deal Proposed with Chemours, N.C. Regulators, Environmentalists Over Water Pollution

Regulators and environmental groups in North Carolina says they’ve reached a tentative agreement regarding a lawsuit with the Chemours Co. over so-called “forever chemicals” flowing into the Cape Fear River.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Thursday that the proposed deal would address pollution from contaminated groundwater on Chemours’ property.

But the main supplier of drinking water in the Wilmington area said it was not included in the negotiations. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority said it knew nothing of the proposed deal until it was contacted by the state earlier in the day.

The parties in the suit are the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the Cape Fear River Watch environmental organization and Chemours.

The company is required to remove 99% of the PFAS contamination.

PFAS are used to make many consumer and industrial products. They’re known as “forever chemicals” because they are slow to break down. Researchers say they’re a threat to human health.