North Carolina Orders Chemours to Expand PFAS Cleanup

North Carolina environmental regulators have directed Chemours to substantially expand its plans for addressing PFAS contamination linked to its Fayetteville Works facility, saying the company has not met key requirements under a 2019 consent order and state law. The state wants a comprehensive assessment of contaminated soil and groundwater across the Lower Cape Fear region, including health and environmental risks and all PFAS associated with the facility, as well as stronger groundwater restoration measures and an evaluation of how ongoing emissions affect groundwater. DEQ says Chemours has spent about $1.2 billion on compliance but has yet to complete its contamination assessment or provide an adequate cleanup plan. The company has installed pollution controls, tested about 27,500 household wells and offered filtration to roughly 10,500 families, but community advocates say stronger action is overdue and residents remain concerned about the effects of contamination. The state’s action comes amid broader efforts to address decades of PFAS pollution affecting rivers, groundwater and drinking-water sources in southeastern North Carolina.