The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Secretary Michael S. Regan on Thursday released the following statement on the General Assembly’s GenX legislation and the need for adequate resources to address emerging contaminants.
“North Carolinians expect DEQ to ensure their water is safe and we need the tools to do our job,” Regan said. “This equipment will help DEQ scientists perform the type of in-depth analysis that’s now expected as part of the overall evaluation of water quality in North Carolina.”
For background:
A high-resolution mass spectrometer is a critical piece of equipment for detection and analysis of chemicals such as GenX. Since June 2017, the department has relied on EPA labs to process water samples from various locations in the lower Cape Fear region that may have been impacted by discharges from the Chemours industrial facility. However, the EPA labs serve multiple states and their ability to assist North Carolina could end at any time. When this happens, the department will have to contract with private sector labs at a cost of about $615,000 per year if the state’s emerging contaminant research and response is to move forward. These efforts impact not only the Cape Fear region, but all North Carolinians who count on DEQ to protect water quality.