North Carolina Regulators Approve Self-Policing Policy for PFAS Polluters

RALEIGH, NC  — The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) voted Thursday to move forward with proposed rules, written by industry, that allow PFAS polluters in North Carolina to self-report and -regulate toxic “forever chemicals” discharges into the state’s surface waters, including drinking water supplies. More than 3.5 million North Carolinians’ drinking water is already contaminated with unsafe levels of PFAS.

The rules abandon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recommendations for enforceable limits on PFAS pollution and fail to include penalties for violations. The proposed rules will go to a public comment period.

Following is a statement from Cori Bell, senior attorney for Environmental Health at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“The EMC voted to advance a policy written by polluters, for polluters. By abandoning proposed limits on PFAS and approving a self-monitoring plan, state regulators are greenlighting an honor system approach that naively trusts industrial polluters.

“The commission should know better than to trust PFAS polluters to act in good faith to report and reduce the pollution that has poisoned North Carolinians for decades. Without setting limits on PFAS pollution and clear penalties for violations, this proposed rule fails to protect our communities from these toxic chemicals in our water.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).