The PFAS manufacturer upstream of Wilmington has asked the Department of Environmental Quality for a permit which would allow it to expand operations. In response, Councilwoman Salette Andrews brought a resolution to Wilmington City Council opposing that expansion.
Cape Fear Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette introduced the resolution.
"Chemours is a classic bad actor,” he said.
He outlined myriad ways he says that’s the case: refusing to pay for drinking water upgrades, lobbying against PFAS regulations, and violating the terms of the consent order under which they operate.
"What this pattern of behavior shows is a company that is willing to put public health and the environment at risk in order to maximize profits. new analysis shows ultra short chain PFAS are being discharged by Chemours in alarming amounts, and these compounds are being found in finished drinking water in Wilmington despite the upgrades undertaken by CFPUA,” he said.
He added that the facility expansion at Chemours Fayetteville Works could increase production by 20% and discharge an additional ton of PFAS annually.
Chemours disputes that statement. Spokesperson Jess Loizeaux said that while production will increase, it's not by 20%. Additionally, she said, "Emissions are projected to decrease by approximately 15% due to the installation of additional emissions control technologies alongside each manufacturing line expansion."
Burdette takes issue with that claim. In an email to WHQR, he wrote, "Chemours’ application states unequivocally that it is seeking huge capacity increases in multiple parts of its facility, including a 100% capacity increase at its Vinyl Ethers North area and a 35-40% capacity increase at the Vinyl Ethers South area (see 2025 Expansion Application at pp. 7-8). Chemours' own projections show that the company's PFAS emissions will increase from these changes."
Loizeaux said in her comments that the Vinyl Ether's North expansion will increase production by 50%, not 100%, and she said, "Additional Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) units will be installed alongside each expansion."
Burdette added that Chemours underestimated its air emissions and failed to include data related to the potential emissions in its latest application, something DEQ highlighted in its response letter to the company.
"If Chemours is allowed to expand, the company could emit more than a ton of additional PFAS into the air each year--despite Chemours' plan to install additional pollution controls. Even more, Chemours should have installed these pollution controls 6 years ago to comply with the Consent Order and to protect North Carolina communities," he wrote.
With respect to the council's vote, Loizeaux wrote, "We respect the Wilmington City Council’s right to express their opinion, though it seems counterintuitive to oppose a permit application that would ultimately reduce Fayetteville Works’ site-wide PFAS air emissions by 15%, despite an increase in production."
The resolution passed council unanimously. It asks NCDEQ and other regulatory agencies to deny the permit until Chemours remediates existing contamination and proves itself to be a good environmental steward.
Note: This article has been updated to reflect Chemours' comments and Burdette's response.
